The Second Avatar

Over the next few days, Yogan's life took on a strange new rhythm. It was as if his rough edges had been smoothed out, tamed by the steady influence of Kaiya. Her sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude kept him in line, at least when she was around. Under her watchful eye, Yogan had started to actually focus during training sessions, keeping his lecherous tendencies at bay and showing more respect to the other novices. It wasn't that he had become a saint overnight—far from it. But something about Kaiya made him want to try, to be better.

Still, Yogan was Yogan. When Kaiya wasn't around, the mischievous side of him couldn't help but surface. With the help of his old partner in crime, Yoan, he still found ways to get into trouble, albeit in a more subtle manner. One day, while the temple elders were busy in a serious meeting, Yogan and Yoan managed to sneak into the storage rooms and rearrange all the sacred scrolls—placing the most important ones on the highest shelves, just to mess with the younger novices who would be tasked with retrieving them. They snickered to themselves as they imagined the confusion that would unfold the next day.

Another time, they "borrowed" some fireworks left over from a recent festival and set them off in the middle of the night, startling the entire temple into thinking they were under attack. The sight of the novices running around in panic with half their robes still undone was enough to send both of them into hysterics, though they made sure to be long gone before anyone could pin the prank on them.

Despite these moments of mischief, Yogan felt a strange sense of balance in his life. His relationship with Kaiya remained a secret from everyone except Yoan, who had a way of picking up on things that others didn't. It wasn't that they were ashamed of being together—they just didn't want the added attention or gossip that would inevitably follow. Kaiya was already one of the most respected novices, and Yogan, despite his rough reputation, didn't want to drag her down by association. So, they kept it quiet, meeting in secret corners of the temple grounds or late at night after the others had gone to bed.

Their relationship was a strange mix of awkwardness, laughter, and occasional tenderness. Neither of them had much experience with romance, so they often stumbled their way through it. Kaiya would tease Yogan about his laziness or his constant need for attention, and Yogan would fire back with sarcastic remarks, though he could never stay mad at her for long. They had moments, though—moments when they would sit quietly by the temple gardens, watching the wind rustle through the trees, and Yogan would feel something deeper stir within him. Something he didn't quite know how to express yet.

But for all the changes in his life, Yogan still had moments of loneliness. He had always been the kind of person who drifted between groups, never fully fitting in, and even with Kaiya in his life, there were times when he felt that familiar distance creep in. It was during one of those moments, as he sat by the pier watching the waves roll in, that he noticed something unusual.

A figure was washed up on the shore, half-buried in the sand and seaweed. Yogan's eyes narrowed, and he stood quickly, running down to the water's edge. As he approached, he saw that it was a man, battered and unconscious, his clothes torn and soaked through with seawater. Yogan knelt beside him, pressing his fingers to the man's neck. There was a pulse—faint, but there.

Without wasting another moment, Yogan hoisted the man onto his shoulders, grunting under the weight. The man was taller and heavier than he had first thought, but Yogan wasn't about to leave him there to die. He trudged up the beach and headed straight for the village healer's hut, his legs burning with the effort.

When Yogan burst into the healer's home, the old woman raised an eyebrow but said nothing, immediately setting to work. For the next few days, Yogan visited the man regularly, sitting by his side as the healer worked to mend his wounds. It was a slow process—the man had been through hell, with deep cuts and bruises covering his body, not to mention a nasty infection in his leg that the healer had to treat carefully. Yogan didn't know why, but he felt a strange sense of responsibility for this stranger. Maybe it was the loneliness creeping in again, or maybe it was just the right thing to do.

As the days passed, the man slowly regained his strength. His eyes fluttered open one morning, and Yogan was there, sitting in the corner of the room, absentmindedly playing with a small piece of driftwood. The man tried to speak, but his voice came out as a hoarse croak.

"Easy," Yogan said, moving to his side. "You've been through a lot. Don't try to talk yet."

The man nodded weakly, closing his eyes again. Over the next few days, Yogan helped nurse him back to health, bringing food, water, and fresh bandages. It wasn't long before the man was sitting up, able to speak in short sentences. One evening, as the two sat together, the man finally opened up about what had happened to him.

"My village," the man rasped, his voice still weak but stronger than before. "It was attacked… by a powerful army. They came out of nowhere, claiming to expand their empire. We tried to resist, but… there was no hope. They slaughtered most of us."

Yogan's brow furrowed. "An army? Where are they now?"

"Heading south," the man replied. "I barely escaped. They're… they're led by a powerful general. Ruthless. He's been conquering villages for months, and no one has been able to stop him."

Yogan felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the elders needed to hear about this. The village wasn't too far from the temple, and if this general continued his conquest, it wouldn't be long before they were at the temple's doorstep. Yogan wasted no time informing Renji, who immediately took the matter to the temple elders.

The elders gathered in the meeting hall, their faces grave as Renji explained the situation. Yogan sat at the back of the room, listening quietly as the elders discussed the danger that was rapidly approaching.

"We've heard rumors of this army," one of the elders said, stroking his long, white beard. "A group of warriors bent on conquest, led by a man who seeks to unite the region under his rule. But we did not think the threat would come so close to us."

Monk Nara, her face calm but serious, nodded. "This general is no ordinary warrior. He is said to wield great power, both physical and spiritual. His ambitions are dangerous, and he will not stop until everything in his path is under his control."

The discussion turned to what their response should be. Some of the elders wanted to fortify the temple, prepare for a siege. Others argued that they should send word to neighboring villages, forming an alliance to stop the general before he could gain more ground. Yogan listened, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that something larger was happening—something that went beyond simple conquest.

After the meeting, Yogan found himself back at the healer's hut, sitting with the man once more. They talked for hours about the attack, the destruction, and their shared frustration at the looming threat.

Eventually, their conversation drifted into more light-hearted territory. The man, whose name Yogan finally learned was Kuno, had a roguish charm about him, and despite the horrors he had faced, he had a sense of humor that Yogan couldn't help but appreciate.

One afternoon, as they were sitting outside the healer's hut, Kuno leaned in with a sly grin. "So, Yogan… you got any girls around here?"

Yogan choked on his water, his eyes wide. "What? I mean—no, not really. Well, there's someone, but it's… complicated."

Kuno smirked, leaning back. "Complicated, huh? I know how that goes."

Just then, Yoan appeared, his usual smirk plastered on his face. "What's this? Talking about girls, are we?" He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't tell me you're corrupting our guest, Yogan. He's barely recovered."

Yogan shot him a playful glare, but Kuno was the first to respond, his grin widening. "Oh, don't worry about me. I've got plenty of energy left for... other activities." He gave a knowing wink, causing Yogan to snort with laughter.

Yoan, never one to let an opportunity for mischief pass, raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Speaking of 'activities,' there's a bathhouse nearby that's... well, let's just say it's got a view that's worth checking out. Care to join, Kuno?"

Yogan's stomach did a little flip. He knew exactly what Yoan was suggesting. The women's bathhouse had a small gap in the wooden fencing, just enough to catch a glimpse if you were... opportunistic. Yogan had peeked a few times himself, though he liked to pretend he didn't care. But now, with Kuno and Yoan both looking at him expectantly, he couldn't resist. The temptation was too strong, and Kaiya wasn't around to keep him in line.

Kuno's eyes lit up. "A bathhouse, you say? Lead the way, my friend."

"Of course," Yoan said, gesturing grandly toward the village with an exaggerated flourish. "Shall we?"

Before Yogan could think twice, the three of them were sneaking down the hill toward the bathhouse, ducking behind bushes and weaving between trees like schoolboys on an adventure. The village was quiet in the late afternoon, most of the villagers either inside their homes or working in the fields, so their little escapade went unnoticed.

They reached the bathhouse in no time, and sure enough, there was the small gap in the fencing that Yoan had pointed out many times before. Yogan glanced around nervously, half-expecting someone to appear out of nowhere and catch them in the act. But Kuno and Yoan were already crouching by the gap, peering through with gleeful expressions.

"C'mon, Yogan!" Yoan whispered, motioning him over. "You're missing out!"

Yogan hesitated for a split second, but curiosity got the better of him. He crouched down beside them, peeking through the tiny crack. Sure enough, there was the women's bath—steam rising from the hot springs, the sound of gentle splashing and hushed conversations drifting through the air. He caught a glimpse of bare skin and quickly felt his face flush.

Kuno grinned, whispering, "Now this is what I call a recovery plan."

Yoan snickered. "And they say we don't know how to enjoy life."

For a few moments, the three of them stayed huddled by the fence, stifling laughter and jostling each other as they tried to get better angles. Yogan couldn't help but feel a mix of guilt and excitement, especially knowing that Kaiya would kill him if she found out. But right now, with Kuno and Yoan egging him on, it felt like old times—just a bit of harmless fun.

Suddenly, there was a loud crack behind them, and all three of them froze. Yogan's heart leapt into his throat. He whipped his head around to see a young villager walking down the path, oblivious to their mischief. The villager kicked a loose branch, the source of the sound, and continued on his way without noticing them.

Yogan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Kuno and Yoan, on the other hand, burst into silent laughter, clutching their sides as they tried not to fall over.

"We're gonna get caught one of these days," Yogan muttered, though he couldn't help but smile.

"If we do, it'll be worth it," Yoan said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "Just imagine the look on their faces!"

But the fun was short-lived. The distant sound of footsteps caught Yogan's attention, and he recognized the distinct rhythm. His stomach dropped. Kaiya.

"Oh no, we gotta go. Now," Yogan hissed, standing up quickly and motioning for the others to follow.

"What's the rush?" Kuno asked, still grinning.

"Kaiya's coming!" Yogan said, his voice urgent. "If she catches me here—"

Yoan's eyes widened, and without another word, the three of them darted back into the bushes, sprinting up the hill and away from the bathhouse as fast as they could without making too much noise. They didn't stop until they were a safe distance away, collapsing onto the grass in a heap of exhausted, breathless laughter.

"That was close," Yogan said, panting. His heart was still racing, not just from the adrenaline of nearly getting caught, but from the thrill of the moment.

"You've got some nerve, Yogan," Kuno said, smirking as he leaned back on his elbows. "This Kaiya must really keep you on a short leash."

Yoan chuckled, nudging Yogan with his elbow. "Yeah, but she's good for him. Without her, he'd probably be running wild all the time."

Yogan rolled his eyes but couldn't argue. Kaiya had changed him in a way, even if he still got up to mischief when she wasn't around. But despite all the jokes and teasing, he liked where things were going with her. It was… different. Something real.

The three of them lay on the hill for a while, catching their breath and joking about their narrow escape. But Yogan's thoughts drifted back to the conversation he'd had with Kuno earlier. The man had survived something terrible, and the threat of the invading army loomed closer every day. Yogan knew that soon, they would all have to face whatever was coming. The temple elders wouldn't be able to hide from it for long.

As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the village, Yogan sat up, looking toward the distant hills. "So, what's your plan, Kuno?" he asked, his tone more serious now. "Once you're fully recovered, I mean."

Kuno shrugged, staring up at the sky. "I don't know yet. My village is gone. My family… most of them didn't make it. But I know one thing—there's no running from this army. They're coming, and we either stand and fight, or we get wiped out."

Yogan nodded, feeling a heavy weight settle in his chest. The playful mood from earlier had evaporated, leaving behind a grim reality that was impossible to ignore.

"We'll figure it out," Yoan said, his voice unusually serious. "Whatever happens, we'll be ready."

Yogan looked at his friends—Kuno, the stranger he had saved, and Yoan, his oldest companion—and felt a sense of resolve harden within him. They had faced danger before, but this was different. This was a threat that could change everything.

"Yeah," Yogan said quietly, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We will."

[A/N: Read five chapters ahead on my patreon available right now. patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels ]