Morning light spilled slowly across the Kiryuu Clan training grounds, turning the stone courtyard pale gold beneath the rising sun. The arena had not yet filled with spectators, but the competitors had already gathered, preparing themselves for the first official round of the Clan Leader Members Competition.
High above the courtyard, seated quietly along the wooden railing of a watchtower, Reina Tsukihana watched everything.
Or rather—
She watched one person.
Sayaka Kiryuu stood alone in the center of the training yard below, practicing with her sword in silence.
Every movement she made carried the calm confidence of someone who had trained their entire life. Her posture was straight, balanced perfectly over the balls of her feet, and when she struck, the blade cut cleanly through the air with sharp precision.
Reina rested her chin lightly against her hand as she observed.
Beautiful.
Sayaka stepped forward, turning her body slightly as she executed another strike. The wooden training post before her shuddered under the force.
Reina's eyes followed every movement.
There was strength in Sayaka's frame—power hidden beneath disciplined control—but it wasn't only that.
There was something else.
Something that made it impossible for Reina to look away.
Even when Sayaka simply stood still between strikes, breathing slowly, sweat glistening faintly along her temple, there was a quiet intensity about her.
Reina smiled faintly behind the white mask.
"So serious," she murmured.
Sayaka lifted her blade again.
Reina leaned forward slightly, watching the motion of her shoulders, the shift of weight in her stance, the way her dark hair brushed against the collar of her uniform when she moved.
Every detail fascinated her.
"I wonder," Reina whispered softly, "if you know how beautiful you look when you're fighting."
Below, Sayaka finished her practice with one final strike, splitting the center of the wooden post cleanly.
Reina's eyes softened.
"No," she said quietly to herself.
"You probably don't."
And that was exactly why she couldn't stop watching.
By midday, the arena had filled with competitors and spectators alike.
Warriors gathered in a wide circle across the training grounds as elders prepared the scroll containing the names for the tournament's first official matches.
Among them stood Sayaka Kiryuu.
Calm.
Focused.
Unmoved by the growing excitement around her.
But she noticed something strange.
Every time she finished speaking with someone, a white mask appeared somewhere nearby.
Across the courtyard.
Beside a pillar.
Walking past her.
Reina never approached directly.
Yet she was always there.
Watching.
Sayaka's eyes narrowed slightly.
Not far away stood another warrior—tall, confident, with dark hair tied tightly behind her head.
Her name was Akari Hoshino.
Akari had trained in the Kiryuu Clan for years and had gained a reputation as one of its most determined fighters. She was ambitious, proud, and more than capable with a sword.
But recently her attention had been drawn toward Sayaka.
When Sayaka finished speaking with another competitor, Akari stepped forward with a small smile.
"Sayaka-sama," she said respectfully.
Sayaka turned toward her.
Before Akari could continue—
A white mask appeared between them.
Reina stood there casually, examining the chain attached to the cracked edge of her mask as if she had simply wandered into the space by accident.
Akari frowned.
Sayaka glanced between them.
Reina tilted her head slightly.
"Please," she said calmly, "continue."
Akari's expression hardened.
Later, when Akari approached Sayaka again near the weapon racks, Reina appeared once more.
And again.
And again.
By the fourth interruption, Akari's patience was gone.
She grabbed Reina's sleeve and pulled her toward the edge of the arena.
"You're enjoying this," Akari said coldly.
Reina looked down briefly at the hand gripping her arm before meeting Akari's gaze again.
"Enjoying what?"
Akari crossed her arms.
"Getting in the way."
Reina tilted her head.
"That wasn't intentional."
"Really?"
Akari stepped closer.
"Then stop appearing every time I speak to Sayaka-sama."
Reina was silent for a moment.
Then she said calmly,
"That sounds difficult."
Akari's eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
Reina's voice lowered slightly.
"Because you keep trying to stand where I want to be."
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Then Akari laughed softly.
"So that's it."
Reina said nothing.
Akari turned back toward the center of the arena where the elders were preparing to announce the tournament matches.
"Fine," she said.
"If you want my place so badly…"
She glanced over her shoulder.
"…then fight me for it."
The arena quieted as the elder stepped forward with the scroll.
"We will now announce the first round of matches for the Clan Leader Members Competition."
Every competitor straightened.
Names began to echo through the courtyard.
"Takeda Jun versus Morita Ken."
The two warriors stepped forward.
Then another announcement followed.
"Hikari Sato versus Ren Ishida."
One by one, the fighters took their places.
Then—
"Sayaka Kiryuu versus Daichi Mori."
A wave of excitement spread through the crowd.
Sayaka stepped forward calmly.
Her opponent bowed respectfully before raising his sword.
The fight began.
Daichi attacked first, fast and aggressive.
Sayaka blocked easily.
Two strikes.
Three.
Then she stepped inside his guard, twisting her blade sharply.
Daichi's sword flew from his hand and clattered across the arena floor.
The fight ended almost instantly.
The elder raised his hand.
"Victory. Sayaka Kiryuu."
Cheers erupted from the watching crowd.
Sayaka stepped away from the arena without celebration.
But she noticed something.
At the edge of the training ground, Reina sat calmly atop the wooden railing.
Watching her.
Completely unbothered.
Their eyes met briefly.
Reina smiled faintly behind the mask.
Sayaka looked away first.
The matches continued until only two names remained.
The elder glanced down at the scroll.
"Final match of the first round."
The courtyard grew quieter.
"Akari Hoshino."
Akari stepped forward confidently.
Then the elder spoke again.
"…versus White Mask."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the crowd.
Reina stepped into the arena.
Even Sayaka turned her full attention toward the center now.
The moment the fight began, Akari attacked with explosive speed.
Her blade struck hard against Reina's defense.
Once.
Twice.
Reina moved smoothly, blocking and stepping aside with graceful precision.
Akari pressed harder, refusing to give her space.
Steel clashed sharply as they circled each other.
Sayaka watched carefully.
Something about the masked warrior's movements felt… unfamiliar.
Reina's footwork was fluid, almost elegant.
Nothing like the direct style of the Kiryuu Clan.
Akari lunged forward again.
Reina twisted aside and lightly deflected the blade.
The motion was effortless.
Too effortless.
Sayaka's eyes narrowed.
She's holding back.
Akari realized it too.
Anger flashed across her face as she attacked again, faster this time.
But Reina stepped inside the strike, turned her wrist, and tapped the flat of her blade against Akari's chest.
The elder raised his hand.
"Victory."
The arena fell into stunned silence.
Reina lowered her sword calmly.
She didn't look at the crowd.
She looked at Sayaka.
And for the briefest moment—
Sayaka felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest.
Not suspicion.
Not anger.
Something else.
Interest.
The training grounds had finally grown quiet.
Most of the competitors had already returned to their quarters, their voices fading as the night settled over the Kiryuu Clan. Lanterns flickered softly along the garden paths, casting long shadows across the wooden walkways.
Reina walked slowly along the edge of a small pond behind the training halls.
Her steps were steady, but her breathing was slightly heavier than usual.
The fight with Akari had been more intense than she allowed anyone to see.
A sharp sting pulsed across her back.
She reached one hand behind her shoulder, trying to feel the wound through the fabric of her robe, but her fingers couldn't quite reach it.
"…Annoying," she muttered quietly.
The cut was not deep, but it had torn through the cloth across her upper back. Blood had begun to spread beneath the fabric, warm and uncomfortable.
Reina sat down beside the pond, trying to twist her arm again to reach it.
Still too far.
She exhaled slowly.
"Of all the places…"
"Having trouble?"
The voice came from behind her.
Reina froze for a moment.
Then she relaxed slightly.
Sayaka Kiryuu stepped out from the shadows of the garden path.
Reina didn't turn around immediately.
"You walk very quietly," she said.
Sayaka didn't respond to that.
Her eyes had already noticed the dark stain spreading across the back of Reina's robe.
"You're injured."
Reina gave a small shrug.
"It happens."
"You should treat it."
"I would," Reina replied calmly, "if I could reach it."
Sayaka stared at her for a moment.
Then she sighed.
"Move."
Reina blinked slightly beneath the mask.
"Excuse me?"
"Sit still," Sayaka said bluntly, stepping closer. "You're making it worse."
Reina tilted her head slightly but obeyed, turning her back toward Sayaka.
The fabric of her robe had torn slightly across the shoulder blade where the blade had struck.
Sayaka crouched behind her.
Without warning, she pulled the torn fabric aside.
Reina inhaled sharply.
"That's a little rough."
"You'll survive."
Sayaka examined the wound carefully.
It wasn't deep, but it had bled more than necessary.
"You blocked too late," Sayaka said.
Reina let out a quiet laugh.
"I noticed."
Sayaka reached into the small pouch at her belt and pulled out a packet of herbal powder.
"You carry medicine with you?" Reina asked.
"It's called being prepared."
Sayaka poured a small amount of the pale powder onto her fingers.
Then she pressed it firmly against the wound.
Reina stiffened.
"That hurts."
"Good," Sayaka replied flatly. "That means it's working."
Reina shook her head slightly.
"You have a very unpleasant way of helping people."
"And yet I'm still helping you."
Reina was quiet for a moment.
Sayaka finished applying the medicine before tearing a narrow strip from the loose fabric of Reina's sleeve.
She tied it firmly across the wound.
"There," Sayaka said.
Reina slowly rolled her shoulder.
The sting had faded slightly.
"…Not bad," she admitted.
Sayaka stood again.
"You should withdraw from the tournament."
Reina tilted her head upward slightly.
"Why?"
"You're injured."
Reina stood as well.
The lantern light reflected faintly across the white mask and its thin silver chains.
She stepped a little closer to Sayaka.
"Are you worried about me?"
Sayaka crossed her arms.
"You're a competitor."
Reina smiled faintly behind the mask.
"Only a competitor?"
Sayaka didn't answer.
For a moment the quiet garden held only the sound of the water moving in the pond.
Then Sayaka turned away.
"Try not to get cut again," she said.
Reina watched her leave.
A soft laugh escaped her.
"You're terrible at pretending you don't care, Sayaka Kiryuu."
Far beyond the mountains surrounding the Kiryuu Clan territory, a group of armored riders moved along a narrow forest road.
At their head rode Prince Akihiro Tsukihana.
A soldier approached his side.
"We've confirmed it," the man reported. "The trail leads toward the Kiryuu Clan."
Akihiro's gaze hardened.
"Then that's where we're going."
Behind them, the royal search force continued forward.
And inside the clan they approached…
The missing princess was preparing for her next battle.