The fields stretched endlessly, golden under the afternoon sun. Yamada wandered, his heart heavy yet curious, until across the valley rose an enormous kingdom, its walls gleaming like stone carved by gods.
Eager to see what lay beyond, he pressed on. Along the road, an old man rode a carriage laden with timber. Yamada approached, bowing slightly.
"May I have a lift?" he asked.
The old man's eyes softened. "Of course, lad. Hop on."
As the wheels creaked forward, the old man glanced at him. "What's your name?"
"Yamada," he replied.
"A unique name indeed," the old man chuckled. Soon, towering gates loomed ahead.
"What is this place?" Yamada asked, awe in his voice.
"The great kingdom of Rudolf," the old man said proudly.
A patrolling guard stopped them. The old man spoke with practiced ease: "We are from the Verdansk region. My assistant here and I bring sandalwood to sell." Verdansk's timber was renowned, and the guard, satisfied, waved them through.
Yamada, stunned by the man's quick wit, whispered thanks. As he prepared to leave, the old man called out:
"Hey lad… you seem defeated, as if you've lost someone. I won't pry, but take this." He handed Yamada a small bag — a loaf of bread and ten silver coins.
Yamada bowed deeply. "Thank you."
The old man smiled and vanished into the market crowd.
Encouraged, Yamada wandered through Rudolf's bustling streets. Merchants shouted, spices filled the air, and laughter echoed. Yet in a shadowed alley, strange sounds drew him in.
Inside, an auction was underway. At first, he thought it was antiques — until he saw children on the stage. His blood froze.
"Slaves!" the host barked, as bids rang out.
Yamada's jaw tightened. He had only read of such horrors in history, but now he saw them with his own eyes. Among the frightened faces, one little girl stood out, reminding him painfully of Mio.
Emotion overwhelmed him. He broke the locks, seized the girl, and fled into the labyrinth of streets.
The host's voice thundered behind: "Find her!"
Far from the chaos, Yamada knelt beside the trembling child. "It's all right. You're safe now. What's your name?"
"Jasmine," she whispered.
He smiled gently, offering her bread. She devoured it hungrily, as though she hadn't eaten in days.
As the sun set, Yamada gazed at her — and in her innocent eyes, he saw Mio. His heart ached, but for the first time since the war, he felt a spark of hope.