[The next morning- 5 miles from the Kuroriku-Kasai no Ki border]

"So bored!" a young man yelled as he raised a black device into the air. "I already beat everything! The online store has nothing interesting to download, either! Guess I'll simply have to wait for my special edition of Battle Septima to arrive."

"Hideo, honey, shouldn't you be studying?" asked a reddish-blond woman as she overlooked her son from the sofa across from the one he was sitting in. She watched as the black-haired boy turned his emerald eyes toward her. "Finals are coming up in a few days."

Hideo sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "I will pass just fine. I am a genius, you know?"

The mother sighed as she stretched to grab a cookie from the silver platter on the glass table between them. "I sure hope so, you failing can still jeopardize your entrance to Elitia University."

Hideo lowered his feet from the right arm of the sofa and sat up straight. "You worry too much. If I managed to pass Elitia's entrance exam without studying, then I can surely pass these high school finals with ease." He put the device on the table and stretched his arms toward the white ceiling. "I'm going to go out."

"Good, it'll be a nice change of pace. Staying all day indoors is bad for the youth."

The teen rolled his eyes. "You know, you can start by showing an example. You have been here all evening reading that romance novel. Not even sure what's so interesting about them."

The mother scoffed. "You simply say that because you know nothing about the finesse of love."

Hideo averted his gaze. "Why would I even want to? So I can grow up to be a lovey-dovey adult like you and Dad? No, thanks."

"Hideo!" yelled a little girl, running up to him and hugging his leg. "Play with us!"

The youth turned around. Two of Hideo's other eight siblings descended the white marble stairs after her. "I was going hunting. Play with Mother instead. She isn't busy."

"Excuse me?" their mother barked. She sighed and stared at her youngest child. Her lips curled up, forming a wide arc. "I guess I can play with you! Come here, little one!"

The little girl giggled and tackled her mother. "Yippee!"

"Uh, can I, can I go h-hunting with you? Big brother?" asked one of the two who had followed the little girl. He lowered his head, causing black locks to cover his crimson eyes.

Hideo stared at the boy in shock. He had never heard his brother ask if he could accompany him. In fact, it was his brother who outdid him when it came to staying indoors.

The boy glanced at his little sister. "I-I rather not get caught up playing tea party with Dossie and Mom again."

"Same here," said the girl who was with him. She was dressed in shorts and a baggy shirt, giving her the appearance of a skater. "I need an excuse to get out of here and skate with the guys."

Hideo smiled at his sister. "Sure, you two. Bye, mom, we're off to go hunt!"

"Hey, be careful!" their mother yelled. "Stay in the same area!"

"Don't worry, we will," Hideo said, making his way to the crimson wooden door. "Have fun with Dossie!"

His tomboy sister opened the door and ran out with their younger brother. "I'm free!" she yelled into the heavens.

"Hey, don't go without me!" Hideo yelled, chasing after his siblings.

Their mother sighed. "Those kids. Come on, Dossie. Let's find us some pretty dresses for our tea party. Perhaps your other siblings would like to join in too."

"Yay!"

***

"Yes! At last, freedom!" Hideo's sister yelled.

"Honestly, Kiara, try to not be so loud," Hideo said, rubbing his ears.

Kiara grinned widely, revealing a mouth full of pearly whites. "Sorry, got overly excited there. See ya guys later! Going to go hang out with Kyle and the others!" she yelled, waving. Kiara summoned a green and red skateboard from her brown hyper ring. She threw the board on the street and jumped on. The skateboard dashed down the waving road leading to the main town below.

The town was one of many tiny settlements across the easternmost lands of the Kuroriku clan. However, each establishment was apart considerably. It wasn't their old home, which had formed the core of a large metropolis.

Just like how the house of Kuroyuki no San governed the northern lands, the eastern lands had traditionally been governed by the Makkuroyama clan. However, following the most recent war with the neighboring Kasai no Ki clan, their grip on power had weakened. That war had left most of the eastern lands more desolate than they had been prior. If it hadn't been due to the rich soil, the monarchy likely would've dropped all claims to the land and allowed the trees and grasses to reclaim it.

Hideo sighed as he peered down the hill his house had been built in. Living on the frontier was so dull, he preferred living in the eastern capital. Well, what used to be the east capital. Makkuroyama province ceased to be after its last Grand Duchess, and her husband rebelled against the previous king.

Unfortunately, his father had been stationed in the tiny border town of Mardaka two years ago to deter invasion from the Kasai no ki in the east. Sure his father got promoted to Dominus, which gave him dominion over an ample size of land and control over a larger army. Still, it wasn't worth it if it meant boredom.

Hideo turned to look over at his brother, who kept his head down as if the bright sun hurt his eyes. "Hey, Dante!"

"W-what, b-brother?" Dante squeaked out, gazing up at his brother.

"You sure you want to come hunt with me? You hate loud noises. Hmm, though I could use the silent bullets," Hideo said, raising a hand against his chin.

"I'll go," he said with determination in his voice. "I, I too need to get out more!"

Hideo sighed and put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't push yourself, Dan. It takes time getting used to the outside world." He gave him a reassuring smile. "If Father hadn't taken me hunting, then likely I wouldn't be all that different from you."

Dan lowered his head. "I-I'm weird, aren't I?"

Damn, I should really learn to phrase things better. "You aren't any weirder than me. If you don't wish to go hunting, we can go do something else."

"I, I said I was fine with hunting," Dan said, lowering his head again.

"Alright, but if you want to stop, we can." Hideo stared at the green hyper ring in his middle finger. "Hmm, it seems we got enough resources for the hike. Hmm, wonder what I should target this time... deer? Oh, maybe a bear!"

"A bear?" Dan yelped. "Big brother, y-you know that killing one is illegal! The High Queen will have your head if it's discovered you killed the sacred animal."

"Yeah, I had forgotten about that. Seems I'll never get my chance to take down a bear." He came to a halt and gasped.

"W-what's wrong?"

Hideo's lips curved into a wide smile as he turned his head toward his younger brother. "Killing a bear is illegal, but nothing mentions making one go to sleep."

"W-why would you do that?" Dan asked, looking up at his brother as if he were irrational.

The older sibling chuckled. "For the sport, of course. Though I would love to taste bear meat one day..."

"H-Hideo!"

Hideo sighed. "Alright, Dan. I won't be hurting any bears if that makes you happy. So happy?"

Dan smiled and nodded. He grabbed his brother's hand and followed him like a child despite being fifteen.

***

Before long, the two brothers arrived at the base of one of the various mountains forming the border between the kingdoms of Kasai no Ki and Kuroriku.

"Alright, time to hunt us some deer! Let's aim for the one with the biggest horns!" Hideo said as he pulled a chain out of the pocket of his black pants. An emerald glow enveloped the chain until in its place was an asymmetrical two-meters tall bow.

"You're using that? Won't that frighten away the animals?" Dan asked.

Hideo chuckled. "I'm hunting animals here, not evil spirits. Though at least we know that with this, none of the latter should come near us."

"T-true. With big brother's virtuous heart, those arrows will annihilate the spirits before even touching them!"

Hideo grinned. "Yup! Your big bro is a righteous hero!" He led his brother into the dense mixed-conifer forest. Raising his right index finger to the wind, he glanced around. "That's odd."

"Hmm, what is?" Dan asked.

"I sense some unfamiliar presences."

Dan stepped back. "Uh, y-you don't think that it might be soldiers from Kasai no Ki?"

Hideo squatted and shuffled forward. "Not sure, but I'll go look. Stay a reasonable distance from me and be on your guard. Prepare to battle if so."

"B-but I, I've never battled," Dan muttered.

"And hopefully, you won't have to, but best not to take this presence lightly."

A branch snapping caused the two to jump. "W-was that you b-big brother?" Dan asked, his red eyes alert.

Hideo gulped and shuffled forward. "No, I thought that was you."

He peeked over the bushes and saw a man wearing golden armor around his arms and legs but not around his chest and abdomen. He was covered in leaves as if he had been thrown into a tree.

"Darn, can't seem to find them. How tiresome. Big eyes sent me here to search for a proper owner for Donato. Yet, here I am searching for those pests," the man said as he headed in the direction of the brothers.

"P-pests? W-who do you think he's talking about?" Dan whispered.

Hideo gasped. "Hey, didn't I tell you to stand a certain distance away?" he asked.

Dan lowered his head. "S-sorry."

"You there!" the man shouted. In a blink of a second, he summoned a golden and blue crook and pointed it at the two. "Come out peacefully, or I'll kill you on the spot!"

Dan raised his hands and cried out, "Y-yes, sir."

"Huh, a kid?"

Hideo cussed under his breath as he followed his younger brother's lead. "Please don't hurt him," the older brother said, trying to keep his composure. In reality, he was as nervous as his little brother. But he couldn't show fear. If he did, Dan would've felt less safe. Worse, he might lose trust in him.

"Another kid!" the man said in surprise. "What are you two doing here?" He narrowed his eyes and gasped. "No, don't tell me that they've resorted to using children for war again..."

"Hey, who are you calling a kid? Well, sure, my brother here might be borderline, but I definitely am not!"

The man tilted his head at him. "You aren't? You seem about the same age."

"I'm just short for my age!" Hideo yelled, his face red.

"You are? Wait. That doesn't matter right now." He raised his staff and pointed it at them once more. "Respond to my earlier question, why are you two here?"

"We came to hunt," Hideo said, showing him his bow.

The man narrowed his eyes at him. "Hunt? So you two aren't rebels?"

"Rebels?"

"Crimson Leaves!" a voice shouted from the tops of the trees.

The man jumped and shielded the two boys from the twister of blood-red leaves. He had taken the full brunt of the attack.

"Curses," he grumbled as he waved his right arm back, returning the remaining leaves to their source. Several shadows dashed away, back into the cover of the forest.

"Y-You're bleeding," Dan said, staring at the ruby liquid dripping down the man's back.

The stranger scoffed. "Worry not, kid, I'll be fine. I know that I may not give off the vibe, but I am one of the seven protectors of this kingdom."

"You're one of the Seven Hill knights?" Hideo asked. His eyes widen so much that one would think they could fall down at any time. He looked over at the man's golden armor and gasped as his brain clicked. "Wait, I heard about you! You're the 'Lightning King', Eiji Raiyama! Why are you here?"

The man closed his eyes. "Sorry, kid, but I got no time to talk. I need to secure the area before the princess arrives."

Hideo huffed. "I'm not a kid!"

"W-wait, d-did you say t-the princess?" Dan asked.

"Yes, the second princess is coming here to meet me for something I can't disclose to mere children."

"I already told you, I am not a child!" Hideo yelled. "But wouldn't it be better to be in town to meet her?"

Dan nodded. "Y-yeah!"

"True, but there is still time before her arrival... or at least there was. I can sense her drawing closer." He closed his eyes. "I'm off to meet her. Those who attacked me are likely heading there as we speak. You two stay safe. There might be other rebels hiding throughout the mountain for all I know. Truly, this region is like a hornet's nest."

Hideo reverted his bow back into its chain form. "Wait, let me accompany you."

"What? Why?" he asked as golden mana covered his wounds, healing them.

He puffed up his boyish chest. "You see, I am the son of the lord of this region, what better person to meet the princess? Meanwhile, you can dash around like a ninja and take down those rebels."

"Lord of this region? Hmm, you do bear a slight resemblance to Hideaki," the Lightning King said.

"Y-you know our dad?" Dan asked.

Eiji's face turned slightly pale. He turned his head away. "You could say that."

What's with that reaction? Does he have bad blood with Dad?

"If you wish, you can go see the princess in my stead. But be wary," Eiji said.

Hideo smiled. "I will!" He looked at Dan. "Go back home, Dan. It's safer there."

"W-wait, Mom said to stick together! I-I can't let you go on your own!"

"Hmm, then I guess we'll both go meet the princess," Hideo said. He smiled. "Try to keep up, little brother." He spread out his green wings and flew down the mountain.

Dan spread out his maroon wings and followed after his older brother.

The man chuckled as he watched the two boys rapidly descend down the mountain. "That older one has a certain spark to him, doesn't he? Hmm?" He glanced down at his bag, which radiated green light. "Is that right, Donato? Seems you see it too. Sadly, it seems like you're going to have to wait a little longer."

Six figures appeared around him, encircling him. "You won't be going anywhere, Sir Eiji," one of the masked figures said, raising a knife at him.

The Lightning King sighed. "I got no time to deal with you!" He spun his crook, knocking all six of them along with the surrounding trees with sheer wind force.

He glanced back at the boys and caught a glimpse of several figures leaping out of some trees. They were moving downhill, in the direction of that Hideo and Dan had gone.

"Damn! Don't tell me that they plan to hurt those kids!" he yelled as a pair of golden falcon-like wings emerged from his back. I shouldn't have let them go. Worse, they're also heading toward where the princess is. Though, if they're as strong as the ones that I took down, she shouldn't have much issue. I hope.

**Character Section**

Hideo Makkuroyama- Sex: Male Age: 17 (soon to be 18) Birthday: June 17th

Kiara Makkuroyama- Sex: Female Age: 16 (soon to be 17) Birthday: May 20th

Dante 'Dan' Makkuroyama- Sex: Male Age: 15 Birthday:  August 13th

Dossie Makkuroyama- Sex: Female Age: 4 Birthday: September 14th

Rene Makkuroyama- Sex: Female Age: 38 Birthday: November 17th

Eiji Raiyama- Sex: Male Age: ? Titles: Seven-Hill, Guardian of Kuroriku, Lightning King, Lover of Animals

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter :3. Currently am working on the next one in the hopes of getting it out soon :3. So, what do you think of Hideo, Dan, and the latest member of the Seven Hills to be introduced, Eiji. Come to think of it, this leaves only two more of the current Seven left to be introduce \^_^/!**