As soon as Boros dropped the bombshell, the air itself seemed to tighten.
Akeno's eyes went wide, her mouth falling open.
"What do you mean you caused this blizzard?"
Kinuko, however, had gone still.
'A rare elemental-type Longinus…
As expected.'
Her gaze locked onto Boros, pulse quickening.
'This Nexus aura… it's overwhelming. It feels like it's pressing down on my chest. How did Akeno even find someone like this?'
Boros spoke, snapping her back to reality.
But his voice had changed.
It was deeper now.
Colder.
Sharper—like something scraping against bone.
"This is where I got my ability," he said, a slow smirk curling his lips.
"Where it all started."
"This village used to be lively. Full of people. Too lively."
His eyes gleamed, something unstable flickering beneath the surface.
"Too perfect. Too bright."
A pause.
"So I fixed it."
The temperature seemed to drop even further.
"I wiped out everyone here and froze the place in time."
His expression hardened.
"Now it's better. More my style."
Kinuko's blood ran cold.
"And the previous Ice Longinus user?" Boros added casually.
"He didn't deserve the power."
Her eyes widened in horror.
"You… killed an entire village just because you didn't like it?"
Boros's grin was wrong—easy, almost amused.
"Let's call it redecorating."
Akeno suddenly burst out laughing, smacking Boros on the back.
"Whoa! That must've been one hell of a fight!"
Kinuko's thoughts spiraled.
'How can she laugh? Doesn't she realize how dangerous he is?'
She clenched her fists.
'Akeno's too carefree…
If someone doesn't watch her back, this man will be the death of her.'
Akeno's laughter faded, replaced by a tense hush.
"Please…" Kinuko began, then stopped, her eyes never leaving Boros.
Akeno leaned closer, voice low.
"Shiro…"
Kinuko drew a slow breath, then bowed her head.
"Please, Shiro… let me come with you."
Her words carried desperation, but her tone stayed controlled.
"You kept Akeno safe," she continued. "I owe you for that. Let me repay you by joining your journey—if you'll allow it."
'If he agrees,' she thought, 'I'll make use of his strength.'
Akeno immediately brightened.
"Ooo, I was just about to ask him too!"
She batted her lashes exaggeratedly.
"Pretty please, Shiro?"
Boros raised an eyebrow.
"Stop getting so close, Akeno. Personal space."
She pouted but didn't move away.
He sighed, rubbing his temple.
"…Fine. You can come. But there are things you need to know."
Relief flashed across Kinuko's face.
"Thank you. I won't forget this."
"Yaaay!" Akeno cheered, wrapping him in a tight hug.
"Thanks, Shiro!"
Boros stiffened but didn't push her away.
"No problem. Since you're joining us, here's the plan."
He met Kinuko's gaze.
"We're heading to the Western Cardinal. We're tracking the Fire Longinus user."
Kinuko smiled faintly.
'Interesting…
So that's what you're after.'
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And how are you so sure he'll be there?"
"Well—" Boros glanced at Akeno.
"Akeno said he'd be there."
"I said he might be there!" Akeno shot back.
Boros gave her a flat look.
"You said 'definitely.'"
She tugged his ear playfully.
"Listen better, Shiro, or you'll get yourself in trouble."
Ignoring her, Boros continued.
"There's a tournament in the West. If the Fire Longinus user is anywhere, that's where he'll show up. Though the only way to know for sure is to attend."
He shrugged.
"That's it. Simple."
Kinuko nodded slowly.
"A Western tournament… I've heard the rumors. That actually tracks."
Then her expression sharpened.
"But we don't have a direct route. Traveling on foot and jumping ports would take over half a month—and the tournament starts around the same time."
She looked straight at Boros.
"So how do you plan to close that gap?"
Silence settled over the room.
Then Boros spoke.
"We'll use the Törak Mhoün."
The world froze.
Both women went rigid.
Kinuko's breath caught.
That wasn't a common tongue.
It wasn't even known.
It was an ancient Eraba term—spoken only among its members.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
'He knows the language.'
Akeno turned to him slowly, her voice calm—but tight.
"Shiro… how do you know about that?"
A bead of sweat slid down Boros's temple.
'I don't.'
'It just slipped out.'
'But there's no way I can say that now.'
He stayed silent.
Kinuko's thoughts spiraled.
'Did the clan find us?'
'Did they send someone after us?'
The Eraba were one of the most secretive clans in the Eastern Cardinal.
So hidden that even their existence wasn't known to outsiders.
And since meeting him…
Cold.
Brutal.
Unyielding.
Just like Eraba shinobi.
Was this a test?
To prove their loyalty?
Her stomach twisted.
She had already failed—revealing names, origins, everything.
There was only one explanation left.
Kinuko's eyes slowly lifted to Boros.
The man sitting in front of her—
…was an Eraba clan member.
Akeno's eyes narrowed, her gaze locking onto Shiro with a clear you're in trouble look.
"Seriously, Shiro," she said. "How do you know about that?"
Kinuko didn't speak.
She just stared—waiting.
Boros's expression didn't change, but his thoughts churned violently.
'I don't even know what I just said.'
He exhaled slowly.
"I had a… connection to the Eraba Clan," he said evenly.
"An old friend, you could say."
Akeno visibly relaxed, letting out a small breath.
"A friend, huh?" she said thoughtfully.
"I haven't heard of any other rogue members, but for him to share something like that with you… and even teach you the language…"
She smiled wide.
"He must've trusted you a lot."
Boros cleared his throat.
"…Yeah."
"Wait."
Kinuko's voice cut cleanly through the moment.
"That's not enough."
Akeno blinked. "Kinuko—"
"No," Kinuko continued, eyes never leaving Boros.
"Akeno told you she was Eraba when you first met. And when you found out I was one too—"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You didn't react like someone who knew the clan at all."
Silence thickened the air.
"You probably didn't even know we existed," Kinuko said flatly. "Did you?"
"K-Kinuko," Akeno tried, glancing between them. "It's fine—"
"I knew someone from the clan," Boros interrupted.
His voice was firmer now.
"If it seemed like I didn't know much, it's because I hadn't seen that person in a long time. I forgot about most of it."
Kinuko frowned.
"You forgot an entire secret clan?"
Boros leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp.
"Forget," he said quietly.
"I suggest you do."
The air shifted.
Kinuko stiffened.
"…Okay," she said after a pause.
"I'm sorry if I offended you."
Boros didn't respond.
After a moment, he clasped his hands together.
"We'll move at first light," he said.
"If we don't slow down, we'll make it to the West before the tournament ends."
Kinuko nodded slowly, though her eyes still searched his face.
Akeno forced a grin, slipping easily back into her usual tone.
"Welp! Guess that settles it."
She stretched exaggeratedly and poked Boros in the side.
"So you ladies better get some rest. No breaks until we reach the West, right, Shiro?"
Boros stood.
"That's right."
He turned away, voice final.
"We're not stopping."