Bang
With a crisp sound, the Dull Blade shattered as a falling rock struck it. The broken sword spun out through the rain while the boulder continued its descent, aiming straight for his head.
In that instant, a thought flashed through Zeyan's mind. Would dying in this place have any impact on his real body?
He could not afford to find out. Just as the rock was about to crush him, a melodious voice drifted into his ears.
"Kamisato Art, Hyoka"
Along with the voice, an ice blue snowflake pattern appeared on the ground, spanning three or four meters across. The moment it formed, a surge of misty frost exploded upwards, blasting everything within its range into the air.
The very edge of the mist stopped just in front of Zeyan.
With a thunderous crash, the falling rocks in front of him were blown away. Then he saw her — Kamisato Ayaka — rising with the mist, gracefully swinging her sword again and again, smashing all the scattered stones before they could reach him.
Zeyan stared at the figure dancing like a white heron amid the storm. His heart skipped a beat. For a moment, the heavy rain, the thunder, the crashing stones — all of it disappeared from his vision. There was only her, that graceful and radiant figure.
Kamisato Art, Senho, comprehension increased to 40 percent.
After a while, when the last of the falling rocks had been cleared, Kamisato Ayaka returned to Zeyan's side. Only then did he snap back to his senses.
"Miss Kamisato, you are amazing. Your Kamisato Art Tachi Jutsu must have reached a level where even its creator would marvel," Zeyan said, praising her without reservation.
"Please do not say that. I still have much to learn," Kamisato Ayaka replied, a little flustered by the compliment.
"This is already the most beautiful scene I have ever seen. It is simply... simply..." Zeyan trailed off, unable to find the right words.
He truly wanted to praise her more to express the amazement in his heart, but he was at a loss for words, much like someone who, upon seeing a breathtaking landscape, could only shout, "Damn"
Of course, he could not bring himself to say something so crude in front of Kamisato Ayaka.
At that moment, Kamisato Ayaka said, "When I was dealing with the falling rocks, I lost my umbrella. I do not know where it went."
Hearing her words, Zeyan realized they were both already soaked through.
"My umbrella too. The wind must have carried it away," Zeyan said, shrugging helplessly.
Kamisato Ayaka smiled lightly. "Since we have lost them, let us just continue on to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
Naturally, Zeyan had no objection. Both of them were already drenched, and holding an umbrella now would feel awkward. That said, if one had appeared, he would have gladly used it. The large raindrops pounding down still stung his skin, and it was difficult to keep his eyes open.
Tossing aside the broken Dull Blade, Zeyan shielded his face with one hand and followed after Kamisato Ayaka.
As they walked, he could not help but widen his eyes behind his hand.
The rain had drenched their clothes so completely that they clung to their bodies, revealing Kamisato Ayaka's delicate figure in full.
Where she should have been slender, she was slender. Where she should have had curves, she had them. The elegant lines of her body, made visible by the rain soaked fabric, were so perfect, so dazzling, that Zeyan could not help but secretly swallow.
"Zeyan, the road ahead is blocked again. We will need to climb. Get ready," Kamisato Ayaka called to him.
"No problem," Zeyan answered, his heart beating a little faster.
Having to climb over rocks was not a bad thing at all. It meant Kamisato Ayaka would likely help him up, and he would get to hold her small, delicate hand — a feeling so pleasant that he wished he could hold on forever.
In truth, Kamisato Ayaka's heart was not calm either.
After helping Zeyan over a rocky ledge, she turned and continued walking ahead, but her wet cheeks were tinted with a soft blush.
While Zeyan had felt the tenderness of her small hand, had she not also felt the warmth of his palm?
For Kamisato Ayaka, this was the first time she had held hands with a boy. The experience stirred up unfamiliar emotions inside her. She found that she did not dislike the feeling at all. On the contrary, her heart raced like a startled deer.
Therefore, after letting go of that warm hand, she could not help but feel a faint sense of loss.
---
Mt. Yougou was vast, and even by noon, the two had not yet reached the summit.
They stopped beneath a cherry blossom tree. The dense leaves and branches gave them some shelter from the heavy rain, and petals of pink and white were swept by the wind and rain, fluttering all around them.
"Luckily, the packaging was sturdy enough. The rice balls are still edible," Zeyan said as he munched on one.
Kamisato Ayaka did not respond.
The closer they got to the Grand Narukami Shrine, the heavier her heart grew. She had already faintly sensed that something was wrong. Her chest felt tight, and her emotions teetered on the brink of collapse.
Zeyan said a few more words, but Kamisato Ayaka only ate her rice ball silently, offering no reply. Gradually, he also fell silent.
After a long while, once Kamisato Ayaka had finished eating, Zeyan spoke again.
"Miss Kamisato, if it is not too much trouble, could I watch you practice your sword again? You look so beautiful when you practice. It drives away the loneliness in my heart. In those moments, I can almost forget that there is no third person in this world."
Kamisato Ayaka's body trembled slightly. She finally replied, her voice firm.
"We will find them. We will definitely find a third person."
Zeyan smiled bitterly. "I hope so."
Kamisato Ayaka pressed her lips together tightly, then stood up and drew the Amenoma Kageuchi.
"Since Zeyan wishes to see me practice, then I shall practice for you."
Hearing his words just now, Kamisato Ayaka realized something. They were both suffering. She had been too absorbed in her own sadness, forgetting that Zeyan was hurting too. As the daughter of the Kamisato Clan, how could she allow herself to wallow in self pity while others suffered?
She felt ashamed of her earlier selfishness.
So, she stood up and practiced her sword for him.
Her movements were beautiful, but even more beautiful was the person herself. Like an ice crystal spinning in winter sunlight, refracting brilliant colors through the cold mist, Kamisato Ayaka became a light that illuminated the darkness.
Watching her, Zeyan seemed to understand something.
Kamisato Art, Senho, comprehension increased to 60 percent.
---------------
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