The Radiant Spirit Rages On(Kenichi/Lethe)

It was a warm and radiant day as a bright and brilliant sun overlooked the whole of Japan. Ever since the conclusion of that last world war, everything seemingly, for the most part, had returned to some sense and form of stability. Civilians were moving about the sidewalks, some alternating between talkative and silent, while those in the grueling workforce, heading toward their respective jobs, soaring along the streets in their state-of-the-art automobiles.

In a word, it was peaceful. A serene scene without even a hint of chaos to be found. Among those civilians was Kenichi himself, a young man who was an adventurer by heart and a martial artist who felt himself to be worth his weight in gold.

It had been some time since he spoke with Calypso and fought with Vanyel in the tournament he hosted annually, aiming to test his skills against whoever participated. Rita had been an amusing woman to meet as well, her spirited approach on life proving to be quite a breathe of fresh air. Oh, and Hvit had to be included as well for presenting him with the tools to tap into his ever-confusing... Tulpa. He was forming more bonds and connections than he could count on one hand. That filled him with a sense of pride. He wished them nothing but the best, eager to support them on their pathways in life, even if they happened to diverge from his own.

Reminiscing on his past, he couldn't quite help but to break away from the throng of civilians to find some semblance of solitude in Yoyogi Park, situated in Shibuya. A spacious place, to be certain. A vibrant setting with lush and mature trees and enough space for adults and children to operate alike. Sitting on a bench, a soft sigh would escape his lips. Even in knowing he had to move on, the one woman that always seemed to fly into his mind had seemingly already long since passed on. Ulv Auber. A sheepish smile formed on his face. Was it obsession? Perhaps. Yet it went far beyond anything else he had felt towards anyone in this lifetime.

She was the ideal manifestation of everything he felt a warrior ought to be, from physical appearance to her spirit itself. Radiantly passionate, overwhelmingly domineering, and a force of nature that commanded that the world bend to her will rather than conforming to the world. Hers was an existence that felt almost dreamlike in retrospect, a divine spirit that graced his company for but a moment. Suffering defeat at her hand was more a joy than humiliation. It was no question he missed her. Even in the moments outside of combat, she was simply a pleasure to be around.

Leaning on the bench, he would quietly throw a few crumbs from his bag for the birds to fly in and enjoy a meal. He was hungry himself, of course, but quiet reflection seemed to prevent him from acting on his desire for a meal. If only... he wondered.

His reminiscent gaze had quickly shifted into one of curiosity as he peered towards the alleyway. Kenichi curiously tilted his head to the side as he witnessed the unfolding event. The woman within, adorned within countryside dress, overwhelmed the mugger entirely and then proceeded to rob him of his own cash for attempting to steal hers. Kenichi was, in a word, impressed. Even for a standard mugger, the woman with snow-white skin had handled him to such a flawless degree that it left him eager to approach the woman and learn more about her. The rising dragon was always excited to meet fellow martial artists. Of course, he wouldn't just make martial arts the focus of a conversation. He had learned throughout his meetings with others that there was more to life than that. As she made her way through the alleyway, Kenichi would quietly wave towards her as a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"I'm use to most women who are harassed by muggers to kick their assailants in no-man's land and run away... but you handled him like a veteran who knows their skills in hand-to-hand combat... and you took his money on top of it, too. After seeing that, I just had to meet you! Oh... my name is Kenichi. And you are...?"

Casually uttering names such as Asthavon, Auber, and Eeola, had caused Kenichi to pause for a moment as he quietly shook the woman's hand. One was a household name - Asthavon. They left an imprint on this realm that would not soon be forgotten. Kenichi had never encountered one and held no desire to do so ever, based on collective rumors of course. He was not a man to cast unfair judgment on an entire family as a result of one person's actions. Auber and Eeola were two names that left him relatively speechless as his mind cycled through the connection Lethe may have shared with Ulv or Mirja. As such, he couldn't help but pose a question.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lethe. Those are three very distinct names to give yourself. Did you and Ulv meet before? I'd ask about the Asthavon but I only know one woman based on her reputation on this planet and that's Mana. Lady Hvit only ever told me about Mirja and the type of life she lived..."

Kenichi would stroke his chin as he observed Lethe. Given that Ulv had been such an adventurous spirit, the rising dragon could not rule out the possibility that the two women had crossed paths before. Mirja was a possibility, too, but then... where did Asthavon apply here? For what he once thought to be little more than coincidental meeting, the rising dragon was getting more than he bargained for.

A somber smile formed on his lips as he listened to the woman cheerfully illuminating the mystery of Ulv's final days and the way she chose to depart from this world. He hadn't expected anything else. That was precisely the type of woman she was. His countenance seemed to brighten at the revelation of Lethe's nature and what she represented as a whole.

Danava of Martial Arts? Kenichi's eyes lit up as his hazel brown eyes observed her with an uncontainable level of excitement and curiosity. As a man who adored martial prowess and viewed it as a skill most warriors ought to have, Lethe might as well be the sun parting the clouds within his entire mindscape.

To some degree, his familiarity with each race had allowed him to understand the base idea of Lethe's origins. Even so! A Danava who represented martial arts!? The potential alone set his soul alight with a flame that would not be extinguished. Her explanation definitely clarified why her familiarity with the names Eeola and Auber; she held some aspect of Ulv from her past life but she didn't readily exude that fiery aura of passion she carried, either.

Discovering what brought her about and how she carried herself would be a fun mystery to unravel. Ulv certainly made a hell of an impression on her way out, huh? Kenichi stroked his chin, wondering how much persuasion and charm was applied to become the knight of someone as terrifying as Algos. On an unrelated note, Henrex was a rather popular individual between Hvit and Lethe, ripe for some form of torture or another. Kenichi wondered what this man had done to earn such torment even after Ulv departed but that was another subject for another day.

"No doubt. You are your own person, free to choose whatever name suits your fancy. Personally, I think it'd suit you to choose your own. It helps distinguish you as an individual... at least that's the way I'd like to see it. Anyway, I have to admit... you've really brightened up my day so far, Lethe... you represent something I share a fierce passion for. No wonder you handled that mugger so well," he quipped with a grin before gazing around.

"This may seem a bit forward and you are certainly free to spend your day however you see fit... but did you want to hang out and grab a bite to eat?"

Truthfully, part of the rising dragon wanted to spar with her. Yet, past experiences have told him to temper himself from diving too far into his passions for combat. Fighting could potentially happen if Lethe welcomed it and if she didn't, that was fine too. Simply sharing her company was more than enough.

"Ah? Ahahaha, w-well you see, you are an f-fascinating woman a-and..."

A bright shade of red would color Kenichi's face as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. He didn't register that he had been looking at her with the sort of excitement that would be ripe for teasing but he didn't particularly feel ashamed about it, either. The familiar tone and the mannerism successfully left him a little flustered, though. She certainly possessed the Ulvian charm... In any case, Kenichi would clear his throat as he offered his hand to help guide her to a popular spot within Shibuya. As a man who loved his food as much as he loved his combat, Kenichi knew exactly where to take her. He could also play off looking like a schoolboy who didn't know how to operate around their crush. A twofold plan destined for success.

"Excellent! There are a lot of options for fine dining in a place like Shibuya, so if anything catches your eye, feel free to be vocal about it, Lethe!"