"Why are we going to your castle?"
"To train you."
Shin'ya blinked. "...Train me?"
"Yes."
"Like– actually train me? With weapons and stuff?"
"Yes."
He was quiet for exactly one second.
"LETS GOOOOO–"
"Don't make it weird."
The walk back through the city was an experience.
Shin'ya's clothes had been drawing stares since the moment they entered the gates –modern fabric, modern cut, nothing like anything anyone here had ever seen. He'd noticed it earlier but now, walking beside Yuki through the busier streets, it was impossible to ignore.
People were genuinely stopping to look.
"Why is everyone staring," he muttered.
"Your clothes,"* Yuki said, not even glancing at him. *"You look like you fell out of a painting nobody's ever seen before."
"Is that a compliment?"
"No."
Then it happened.
A well dressed merchant stepped directly into their path, eyes fixed on Shin'ya with an expression of delighted recognition.
"Ah! A foreign noble, yes? That fabric – clearly from beyond the eastern borders! I have JUST the finest silks for someone of your stature–"
Shin'ya straightened up immediately.
"Why yes," he said, in the most dignified voice he could manage. "I am indeed a noble. From very far away. Very prestigious. You may have heard of my family–"
"Shin'ya."
"–The House of Shin'ya, very old bloodline–"
"Shin'ya."
"–we are known throughout many worlds actually–"
Yuki grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away mid-sentence.
"Sorry," she said flatly to the merchant. "He's new."
They passed a group of armored knights training in an open courtyard near the upper district. Shin'ya's eyes went wide.
He grabbed Yuki's sleeve.
"Are those–"
"No."
"But they could be–"
"They're not your future party members."
"You don't know that."
"I know that."
Shin'ya stared longingly at the knights as Yuki dragged him forward.
One day, he thought. One day.
The castle was even more impressive up close.
Stone walls that had clearly seen centuries. Guards stationed at the gate, straight backed and serious. A proper drawbridge. Shin'ya was taking it all in with barely contained excitement when one of the guards stepped forward and held up a hand.
"Halt. State your–"
*"I'm with her,"* Shin'ya said immediately, pointing at Yuki.
The guard looked at him. Then at Yuki.
Yuki closed her eyes briefly.
"...He's with me," she said.
The guard stepped aside.
Shin'ya walked through the gate trying very hard not to look too pleased with himself. He failed.
Inside, the castle was quieter than he expected. Stone corridors, high ceilings, the distant echo of footsteps somewhere above them.
"Does this place have a dungeon?" Shin'ya asked.
"Yes."
His eyes lit up. "A DUNGEON– wait does that mean we're going dungeon crawling? Like underground ruins? Traps? Ancient treasure??"
"It means a prison," Yuki said. "Where we put people."
"..."
"Keep walking."
---
They ended up in what looked like a training hall – open, high ceilinged, weapons mounted along the walls.
Yuki turned to face him properly for the first time since they'd left the forest.
"There is a sword," she said. "Legendary. Called Ketsugai."
"Cool name."
"I want it."
Shin'ya raised an eyebrow. "Okay. So go get it."
"I can't get it alone. I need a party." She looked at him. "Which is where you come in."
"...Me."
"You."
"Why me specifically."
"Because you're here."
Shin'ya opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"That's literally the least inspiring reason I've ever heard."
"Do you want to hear the inspiring version or the true version?"
"...True version."
"You're here, you have no idea where you are, and you need someone to not get you killed. I need someone who won't slow me down after some training. It works for both of us."
Shin'ya stared at her.
"...And the sword?"
"It grants one permanent ability to whoever claims it. Any ability. Their choice. Mine when I get there."
"And if I claim it first?"
Yuki's expression didn't change. "You won't."
"Confident."
"Realistic." She turned toward the weapon racks. "We start now."