Taro woke up to the usual calm morning sounds of the castle, but today there was something different. The air was lighter, almost jubilant. He noticed it the moment he stepped out of his room—the servants walking faster, their voices filled with cheer. He caught one passing by in the hallway.
"What's going on?" Taro asked, a slight frown on his face. The unusual energy in the air had piqued his curiosity.
The servant smiled brightly at him. "Oh, Lord Takeda is in the best mood! The young master is finally feeling better! He's happy and smiling for the first time in ages!"
Taro raised an eyebrow. "The young master?"
"Yes," the servant continued. "Ever since he was born, the boy's health has been fragile. But today—today is the first time in a long time that he's feeling strong enough to get out of bed. Everyone's so happy!"
Taro couldn't help but crack a small, delicate smile. It was strange, really. He didn't know what to make of this sudden change, but he wasn't going to question it. A sick child finally feeling better... it was enough to lighten the mood in the whole castle.
'Guess the talisman worked better than I thought.'
As the servant hurried off, Taro's expression softened, his gaze drifting to the rising sun. There was hope in the air, and for once, it felt genuine.
Later, Takeda was in the grand hall, practically glowing with joy. He had never seen the lord in such a carefree mood, and it was almost unnerving. Takeda was a man of discipline, his stoic face often marred by the weight of his responsibilities. But today, he was grinning like a child.
"Taro!" Takeda exclaimed, practically leaping from his seat when he saw him. He pulled Taro into a bear hug, lifting him off the ground with surprising strength. "I should've hired you as my guard years ago! This day, this happiness... it's all because of you!"
Taro let out a dry chuckle, pushing Takeda away gently. "I'm not exactly a good luck charm, my lord," he teased, rolling his eyes. "I've seen worse days."
Takeda slapped him on the back, his laugh loud and infectious. "Nonsense! You're more than just a guard. You've brought peace to this household. I knew the moment you arrived things would change. I should've trusted my instincts."
Taro smirked, glancing at Takeda with a raised brow. "Well, don't go thanking me just yet. I don't do miracles."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll find a way to make one happen," Takeda said, his voice light with amusement. "You've already done more than I ever could have imagined."
Taro didn't respond, but he could feel a warmth in his chest. It was strange, this loyalty he had begun to feel for Takeda, a man he had barely known. But something about the lord's sincerity made Taro want to protect this family more than he had ever wanted to protect anyone.
Taro's duties took him to the front porch of the young master's room. He stood there, sword resting against the pillar, his eyes scanning the peaceful landscape. The large clearing before him, with ponds, a variety of trees, and fields of green grass, was beautiful. It had been designed for the young master's play, but the boy had never been able to run and enjoy it. His frail condition had kept him confined to the castle, a prisoner to his own body.
Taro could feel the weight of that emptiness every time he looked at the clearing. There were no children laughing or playing, no joyful shouts echoing through the open space. But today... today felt different. Taro couldn't place it, but he felt a spark of hope, as if something was shifting.
All throughout the day multiple guests appeared to see the ill boy who had slightly recovered for the first time.
Taro didn't really oay any attention to that. Neither did anyone pay any attention to him.
He just stood there.
At the beginning of the night Sayaka appeared beside him, her spirit form shimmering in the early evening light. "You're awfully quiet today," she remarked, her voice filled with playful curiosity. "Something on your mind?"
Taro glanced at her, his usual deadpan expression softening ever so slightly. "Just thinking," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "It's been a while since I've felt anything good around here."
Sayaka rolled her eyes, floating lazily in the air beside him. "Please, don't get all sentimental on me. I can't handle you being all soft and moody. Who will I make fun of?"
Taro cracked a rare smile, but it was fleeting. "You're impossible," he muttered under his breath, trying to suppress a chuckle.
"Yep. And you love it." Sayaka's grin was mischievous, her ethereal form swirling around him like a playful breeze.
They stood in silence for a while, the sun lowering and the evening sky darkening with each passing moment. As the stars began to twinkle above, Taro's instincts flared. Something was off.
Without a word, he snapped to attention, his gaze narrowing. His sharp senses locked onto something above them—movement on the roof.
"There's someone up there," Taro said, his voice cold and steady. He didn't wait for Sayaka's response. He was already moving.
In an instant, Taro leaped from the porch, his body twisting through the air. Shadows swirled around him, wrapping around him like a cloak, and he landed on the roof with the grace of a predator.
A shinobi—fast, agile, and clearly trying to avoid detection—was moving across the tiles. But he didn't account for Taro.
Taro stood tall, sword in hand, glowing in the moonlight. The assassin froze when he saw Taro's silhouette against the night sky, his eyes wide with fear. The assassin pulled a dagger, but Taro's blade moved faster, slicing through the air and knocking the weapon from the assassin's hand.
"Going somewhere?" Taro asked, his voice sharp and mocking. He raised his sword, its edge catching the light of the moon.
The assassin lunged at him, but Taro was already a step ahead. He sidestepped, using his momentum to knock the shinobi down with a swift blow to the back of the head.
Sayaka appeared beside him, a little too casually for someone who had just watched a fight unfold,if it even could be called that. "Where did you get the rope?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Taro didn't look at her, still keeping an eye on the unconscious assassin. "Don't question it," he replied with a grin. "I'm resourceful."
Sayaka floated closer, inspecting the tied-up shinobi. "I'm sure you are. But seriously, what are you planning to do with him? Beat him into talking? Torture him? Send him to Takeda?"
"Maybe all of the above," Taro replied dryly. "Let's see if he has anything useful to say first."
The interrogation was a bust. The assassin remained tight-lipped, giving Taro nothing but a cold stare. It was clear he had no knowledge of the larger plot or the people behind the attempt on the castle.
"Useless," Taro muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. "We should've known better. There's always a bigger fish."
Sayaka let out a sigh. "I told you it wasn't going to be easy."
Taro stood, looking down at the assassin. "Yeah, yeah. Still, Takeda will know what to do with him."
The next day,Taro handed the assasin over to Takeda who thanked him and interrogated the assasin. The interrogation was again,a bust. The assasin really didn't know anything.
The patriarch of the family,Takeda's father was especially angry.
Taro was pretty sure the assasin is dead.
The following night, Taro found himself back on the roof, his gaze fixed on the stars. Sayaka floated next to him, her translucent form flickering as she yawned.
"So," she said, breaking the silence, "What do you think is really going on here? Someone sent that assassin, but they're not after just anything. It's got to be more than a simple infiltration."
Taro didn't answer at first, his eyes narrowing as he thought. "Don't know,everythings weird and unusual,nothing makes sense.
Taro didn't answer. He couldn't. He wasn't sure about anything anymore.
As they entered the young master's room later that night, Taro's mind raced. He knew something wasn't right with the boy, something deeper than just his illness.
He moved quietly, lifting the tatami mat where the talisman had once been placed.
But it wasn't there.
He frowned. "It's gone."
"Check a different spot," Sayaka urged, hovering over him. Her tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. Something was wrong.
Taro did as she suggested, carefully checking the corners of the room, behind the curtains, even underneath the furniture. But there was nothing. No sign of the talisman.
"I don't like this," Taro muttered under his breath.
Sayaka shivered. "That shadow... it's growing."
Taro glanced over at the corner of the room where the shadow was expanding. It crept along the floor, reaching toward the boy who slept soundly in his bed. The tendrils of it seemed to twist and stretch, almost alive.
"I don't like it either," Taro said, his voice tight. "This isn't normal."
He pulled out another talisman and pressed it against the wall. As soon as it made contact, the air in the room shifted. The boy jerked awake, shaking violently. The spirit in the corner of the room seemed to recoil.
Sayaka's eyes widened, her voice trembling. "That's not... normal. A spirit reacts to a talisman, but the boy—he's connected. And that's something we haven't seen before."
Taro watched the boy's trembling body with growing concern. "This is far from over."
End of Chapter