Chapter 18 : Promises in Conflict

The massive library of the Fujimoto Castle was silent, save for the soft flipping of pages. Sakura sat at the corner table, surrounded by seven thick books—each one more complex than the last. Her eyes were strained, her shoulders slouched with exhaustion. She let out a long sigh and finally closed the last book, placing it gently atop the pile.

She stretched her arms and rubbed her eyes, unaware of how much time had passed. Only when her gaze fell upon the ancient wall clock, ticking quietly at the far end of the room, did she realize it was nearly noon.

“Noon already?!” she gasped. Her heart skipped a beat. “What is Shin doing right now...?” she whispered, her voice laced with curiosity and a tinge of worry.

Then, like a sudden crash of thunder, her memory jolted awake.

“Emi! Hana! Ren! Ryo! Kai! Haru!” she said in a panicked tone. “I almost forgot I promised I’d come today!” She jumped up from her seat. “Maybe I should go now before it’s too late—”

But as she took a step forward, a wave of memories rushed in. A particular one halted her in her tracks.

“Promise me you won’t go anywhere near the boundaries. Not alone. Not without telling me,” Shin had said.

“I promise,” she had replied.

Now that promise echoed in her ears, pulling her back. Her heart felt like it was being tugged in two different directions. “But I also promised Haru and everyone else... They were counting on me.”

Conflicted, Sakura clenched her fists. She slapped her cheeks gently but repeatedly. “What do I do? I promised them both! I can’t break either promise!”

After several deep breaths, she stood still, her thoughts settling like dust. Then she nodded with resolve.

“I’ll ask Shin when he gets back. If he says yes, then I’ll go.” Her voice was firm. The confusion vanished—at least for now.

Meanwhile, inside the Grand Palace where the Clan Assembly was held, the last of the young representatives stepped down after speaking before the gathering. All the children returned to their respective clans, voices murmuring around the chamber. But Shin remained silent, standing at a distance, away from the crowd.

The clan leaders and ladies had begun mingling, discussing politics and alliances while they waited for the King to arrive.

Lord Daikai, a tall man with sharp features and a smug demeanor, turned toward Lord Haruki, who stood calmly beside his son.

“Your son, Shin, shows impressive potential. A fine warrior. Strong, calm, focused.”

Lord Haruki bowed his head slightly. “Thank you.”

Daikai then smirked. “But I’ve heard your daughter—Sakura, is it?—still can’t use magic. Isn’t she past the age of awakening? Quite... embarrassing for the Fujimoto name, wouldn’t you say?”

Shin’s eyes twitched, but he didn’t move. His fists clenched slightly by his side.

Haruki, unfazed, answered calmly. “My children are different. Strength doesn’t only lie in magic.”

Lord Haruki raised a brow, pressing. “I heard your younger son ran away. Are things falling apart in your household?”

The entire hall fell into an uneasy silence. Haruki and Daikai stared at each other, tension thick in the air. Shin’s eyes blazed, but he held back, standing still as a statue.

Then, like sunlight through clouds, the large golden doors swung open.

The King entered with quiet authority. His presence demanded respect, and his smile instantly lightened the atmosphere.

“Thank you all for your patience,” the King said, his voice warm yet commanding. “Let’s begin the meeting.”

Every child turned their gaze to him, awe and curiosity sparkling in their eyes. This was the first time they had seen the ruler of the kingdom in person.

Far outside the capital, in an old abandoned mansion nestled between woods and rivers, the other group had just finished their training. The sun shone warmly overhead, casting playful shadows across the cracked stone courtyard.

Kai, Hana, Ren, and Ryo lay sprawled across the stone floor, laughing and teasing one another.

“You call that a fireball?” Ren mocked, grinning.

“I was going easy on you!” Kai shot back.

Ryo chuckled. “Easy? You almost hit a tree!”

Hana giggled, and for a moment, everything felt light and joyful.

Emi stood nearby, watching them with a soft smile. Her gaze was warm, proud. But her expression slowly shifted. Something felt... off.

“Wait...” she said, scanning the group. “Where’s Haru?”

Everyone paused. Their laughter died.

“He was just here,” Hana said, standing up.

They all began calling his name and searching the surrounding areas, panic rising quickly. Then, near the steps, Hana spotted a piece of crumpled paper.

“It’s Haru’s handwriting,” she said. “But it’s so messy... I can’t read it.”

She rushed it to Emi, who took the note with trembling fingers. Her eyes scanned the ink. Her face paled.

“No... it can’t be,” she whispered.

“What did he write?” Ren asked, alarmed.

Emi’s voice shook. “Haru... left to find Sakura. He said he’ll return after he sees her.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Ren said.

Kai jumped to his feet. “That idiot! He doesn’t even know where she is!”

“He could be in serious danger!” Ryo added.

Hana bit her lip. “What if he runs into soldiers or beasts?!”

Emi’s mind raced. Then she made a decision. “Kai, stay here. Protect Hana and Ryo.”

“I’m going too!” he insisted.

“No,” she said firmly. “We need someone strong to stay behind. Ren and I will go. We’ll bring Haru back.”

Kai hesitated, but eventually nodded. Emi and Ren threw on dark robes and left through the back gates, vanishing into the forest path.

Back at the Fujimoto Castle, the library was once again silent. Sakura sat at the table, flipping through the pages absentmindedly. But her mind was far from the words.

What is Shin doing right now? Did the meeting start?

And what about Emi? Hana? Ren? Ryo? Kai?

And... Haru.

Her heart sank a little.

Are they angry at me... for not coming?

The sun shone through the stained-glass window, casting a faint glow around her. But Sakura felt the shadow of her choices growing larger by the minute.