Kyota descended the stairs slowly, each step echoing with quiet resolve. The soft aroma of freshly cooked food met him halfway. His heart was steady, but his thoughts stirred. He had made a decision—he wanted to understand this world, its secrets, and his place in it.
The sun filtered through the wooden windows of the house, casting golden rays on the breakfast table, where the others were already seated. Raito poured tea into steaming cups while Kyota was stuffing his face with rice balls. Ayame teased him about his appetite, earning an exaggerated scowl from him.
"Slow down, you'll choke," Aqua said with a gentle laugh, handing Kyota a bowl as he took his seat.
"Too good to slow down!" Kyota mumbled through a mouthful of food.
Kyota couldn't help but smile. He hadn't known this kind of warmth before. It was noisy. It was chaotic. It was... comforting.
As they ate, Aqua brought out an old photo album. Ayame opened it and gasped at a younger Raito in armor too big for him.
"No way! That's you?" she laughed.
"Times were tough," Raito grunted.
Aqua chuckled. "And your hair was tougher."
Kyota found himself laughing too—an honest laugh. For a moment, everything felt simple.
But after lunch, the mood shifted.
Raito's voice broke the calm. "Listen... there are things we need to tell you."
Kyota immediately sensed something was off. He looked between Raito and Aqua.
Was this about him?
Raito hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "Your mother and I... we ran away from our families. Forget what I said."
He looked away, avoiding Aqua's amused gaze. She smiled softly at him.
With a deeper breath, Raito tried again. "Your mother is the youngest daughter of a clan that worships the Water God. Her family is full of powerful water mages. I… was an orphan, raised and trained by palace knights."
Ayame and Kyota stared in disbelief.
"Wait, wait—what? That's insane!"
"Tell us everything!" they cried in unison.
Aqua took a sip of tea and began calmly. "I was born in the Far East, in a country called Mizu. I was the third and youngest princess. The one who fought me a few days ago—was my elder brother."
Kyota's eyes widened. "You're a princess?"
She laughed. "I met your father when I was fourteen. He was part of the royal guard for the Flame Princess. During a political gathering, leaders from Mizu, Homura, Chikyu, Kaze, and Inazuma all gathered in Central."
Raito continued, "I had just been named the Second Sword Saint. Wielder of Ni-Yahiba, second among the Seven Saint Swords. I was assigned as the Flame Princess's personal guard."
Aqua gave him a sidelong glance. "And then he walked in on me while I was changing clothes."
"I told you that was my room!"
"I told the court I wanted your head!" she grinned.
"Thanks to my father your life was spared ."
"But it was my room."
"I couldn't stand that they never listened to my request, so I stormed into the jungle."
Kyota leaned in. "Then what happened?!"
The rain fell in heavy curtains as Raito pushed through the overgrown forest, his boots sinking into the mud. Every branch seemed to grab at him, but he pressed on.
He finally spotted her—Aqua, sitting beneath the roots of a massive tree, soaked but proud.
"You followed me."
"I was ordered to bring you back."
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
They wandered the wilderness in near silence, finding an abandoned forest shrine as the sky darkened. Raito sparked a fire with flint,
That night, demons attacked—creatures of twisted flesh and glowing red eyes. Raito drew Ni-Yahiba, slicing through the mist. Aqua's magic surged in spirals of water and frost.
One beast lunged toward her. Raito shielded her, plunging his blade into the demon's heart.
He collapsed on top of her, breathing hard.
"You okay?" he asked, their eyes locked.
Aqua nodded, her heartbeat echoing.
Neither of them moved.
"You fight like a war veteran," Aqua said,
They laughed together.
The next day, they followed a winding river, sunlight filtering through the mist. Aqua kicked off her boots, splashing in the stream.
"Danger suits you," Raito said with a smirk.
"You're not bad yourself."
They crossed a worn rope bridge. Halfway through, the wood snapped. Aqua screamed. Raito caught her, pulling her into his arms midair.
"Don't let go."
"Never."
That evening, they found a waterfall hidden in the heart of the jungle.
Aqua bathed beneath it, her figure glowing in the golden light. She turned and saw him staring.
She smiled. "See something interesting?"
He turned his head then stepped under the falls a slop above her. Water coursed over his bare chest and abs, revealing years of battle. She blushed and quickly turned away.
"You've seen scars before," he teased.
"Not ones that made me curious."
That night, they sat close by the fire. She leaned against his shoulder.
"You stayed," she murmured.
"I would again."
Back at the capital, Aqua's voice turned heavy.
"When we returned... something happened. While I was bathing, Prince Astar walked in. He touched me."
Kyota's fists clenched.
"I screamed. They blamed Raito. And he took the fall… to protect me. But I told the truth. And when Astar tried to silence me again in court—Raito cut off his hand before the entire kingdom."
"And I saved him from getting executed and I healed the prince"
She looked at him, her voice soft. "After that, I confessed my feelings. Most disagreed—including the Flame Princess. She forced him to reject me."
Kyota gaped. "Again?!"
Aqua laughed. "Yes. The next year, I again confessed to him, but he shot me down. After I pretended to jump off the castle walls, he finally ran to me and said don't do something that will worry me."
Raito looked away, slightly red. "It was... a bad bluff."
"We ran away together," she finished.
Silence settled.
Then Kyota broke it with a smile. "Honestly? That's the coolest love story I've ever heard."
"But why is this a problem now?" he added, tilting his head.
Aqua and Raito exchanged a quiet, serious look.
"That…" There will always be a fight against us from kingdoms and sword masters cause I am the water spirit tamer and your father is the wielder of NI-Yahiba