The wooden garage door raises, wooden planks plinking together as Giro steps out, his new dark armor a guaranteed promise to protect him on his travels, his equipment a promise to ensure his arrival, and finally Yala, her own personal promise to both guide and annoy him.

Giro had almost forgotten how much she annoyed him, if he were to be honest. He decided he would tolerate her for now, because Giro is a nice person like that. “Giro, are you ready, buddy?” She asked with a bright smile. She had taken better to him than he had to her, maybe he was wrong.

Still, as brightly as she may smile, that was nothing compared to Giro’s big beautiful sun, which he decides to take a little extra time taking in. So long that Yala became a little worried, just enough to surprise her when he took a step forward.

“You- You scared me, Giro. Come on already.” She giggles, but Giro can’t help but find her a little impatient. He follows her none-the-less, guided deep into the Cades’ territory by his friend. “Giro, do you know why we call our home The Cade?” She asks, as Giro watches the sun in the sky.

This was something he liked about the sun, it never moved from its spot as much, so he could travel as far as he likes, without having to move his head much. “Cade is the name of our guardian deity, who guides us through the four priests.” She explains to him, as he GUESSES he’ll listen.

“We’re headed for the Spring Cade, you see. And don’t worry, I picked up the scrolls before we left.” Yala continues, reminding Giro that he was supposed to pick that up. “The four Cades are the Summer, Winter, Spring, and Autumn Cades.” She tells him, before gleefully diving into the story of her home.

They’re stopped by ANOTHER group of what seems to be Ninjas, but Yala informs them they have a mission to complete, even going so far as to show the letter. This had been confusing to the ninjas, making them question why the priestess didn’t just call THEIR priest.

They decided they would bring it in for inspection, before giving it to their priest. But Giro disagreed, taking it from Yalanaga’s hands before she could give it up. This was GIRO’S mission, and it would not be completed unless he was there to confirm it.

That was something the Lonely Doctor had strictly taught him- That wasn’t right… Giro was never taught anything by the Lonely Doctor, he was MADE by the guy, it was a deeply ingrained rule in his mind that made absolutely sure he would NOT consider his quests completed unless he was one-hundred percent certain.

He held the scroll inside his Force Cannon, and ejected his pulse cannon as Yala pressed her back against his. “Alright, fine, Giro. You want it your way? I’m in. I can’t just let these guys have their way.” She tells Giro as the ninjas surround the two.

The pulse cannon luckily is another of his non-lethal weapons, meant to go alongside Giro’s Ion Spear. It fires a massive pulse of electricity for a longer range stun, making it much harder to dodge out of the way if you’re not fast enough.

In case it breaks, the force cannon can always launch the spear, but that risks Giro being left helpless, unless he decides lethal action is necessary. But that’s enough of that, he already decided he wouldn’t take a life, as long as he could help it.

They fought off the ninjas furiously, the Ion Spear and Pulse Cannon making it quite easy with how well they struck their opponents, slowly but surely knocking them out..

Hours after they escaped the attack, they came to what seemed to be an impasse… A ravine… Giro would survive the fall quite easily, but he didn’t want to waste all that time trying to dig his way up. “I’ve got this, come on.” Yala suddenly says, lifting Giro over her head…

Giro’s armor prevented him from jumping, but he now realized that since he WAS built to jump, he was also probably light enough for HER to do so… They land on the other side, and she gently places Giro back on the ground, giving him a moment to gather his bearings…

Giro looks at her, a newfound appreciation for what she could do for him, making him realize that she hadn’t just promised to guide… But to truly assist him, he could trust in her aid… “Come on, dummy.” She says, still annoying, but somehow much more tolerable.

They had finally arrived at the Spring Cade, being on the opposite side of the Autumn Cade. In the distance, the legendary Hydra watches and guards its realm with diligence and yet… Humility…

Giro and Yala make their way through the Spring Cade as they finally arrive at the town hall, Giro resting the scroll on the floor, and finally being allowed to leave as Yala smirks at a still smoking set of ninjas on the way out, obviously having gotten here after them.

“Suck it Springy Boys!” She had called out, taunting them to attack, but her Ion Spear was a good enough reminder to not risk the pain. Giro turns around, as the heads of the great hydra watch him, before he finally waves and leaves.

Now they were off to the Summer Cade, since Yala wanted to put off the winter cade for as long as possible. After helping Giro over a steep cliff face, he’d come to appreciate her company even more.

“Cade is a god, you see.” Giro was however already aware. Legendary creatures were among a greater species of beings who could transform between a human form, and the creature they represent. Nobody knows why this is. Can they transform between other mortal creatures, like foxes and dolphins? Maybe they had simply chosen humans, as they were moderately smarter, as little as that gap might be.

“He’s just one among the few hundred on Orion.” She continues, reminding him that the true gods in this world were indeed quite low in population. It required faith and belief for the gods to be born, which was exactly why they were so few, yet so powerful.

Legendary Creatures had numbered in the muli-million. Just barely larger than the Templar Legions, while the mythicles had numbered in the multi billions, and the mortals would number in yes, the trillions, proving they were truly the most common yet most powerful among the many categories.

Overpopulation was horribly rampant… BUT it didn’t matter… “He’s believed to be a god of the very seasons, having shared his power with the priests, that’s why they localize themselves in their specific cades.” She continues as they fight off MORE ninjas! Since they had seemingly decided to make this tradition with Giro’s journeys...

Yala managed to deal with it herself anyways, realizing the Ion Spear, while not the most effective weapon, was much more advanced than most of their weapons. Anyways, with that cleared up, they finally arrived at the Summer Cade.

They spot a tall mountain, not nearly as tall as the Phoenix Perch, but very tall in of itself. “That mountain is known as the Dragon Den, just like the Hydra Pit.” Yala told Giro, pointing right at it as they headed into the village and delivered their message.

Passing by even MORE flustered and smoking ninjas, of whom Yala was all too eager to grin at, despite her unfair victory… But was it really the Ion Spear that brought her such victories? Giro supposed so, he doubted they were out for blood, even when trying to stop her… They had been careful to not even harm her while she was free to go hog-wild, thanks to Giro’s Ion Spear…

“Well, all we have left now, Giro, is the Winter Cade! I wish I knew what these messages were about…” Yala tells him as she pulls the third scroll from her backpack. “You wanna get some rest first, Giro?” She asks, looking at him again as he stares at the sun.

“Fixated on your favorite thing again, I see. Well, alright. Come and get me whenever you’re ready, big guy.” She says, pointing two finger pistols at him before walking away, to do whatever she does that Giro doesn’t know about, nor cares enough to find out, for that matter.

Nah, the only thing Giro cares about is the sun. Praise the sun, if you ask him… So why won’t it ATTUNE with me?... He asks himself, his frustration half as present as his anger.

End of Chapter: 6 “Alcade of the hidden villages.”

Thank you for reading.