The Reisho Mountain

The mountain was like no other. Cold and cruel, it's icy peak reached into the clouds like many - but was home to mystery and legend like no other. A mountain were ice didn't melt and the wind felt like a whip on bare skin. A mountain that the Black Dragon had long made his home. It was a harsh place of proving. And one day, his daughter would step forth and face it's cold embrace. "You have a sister", Ishin said, his back against the rocky wall of the cave, hand wrapped round the hilt of the sword he'd driven into the ground. "From mother?", a young girl asked, her voice floating softly over the crackling song of the fire warming the cave. "No", Ishin answered, voice deep and low, his hazel eyes catching the warm glow of the fire.

"But she is your sister. As much as she is my daughter", the Black Dragon said, long curls framing a rugged and hardened face that seemed to softened in longing. "Her name is Shiho", he continued, voice rumbling low and dark like thunder. "Where is she?", the girl asked, turning from the fire to face her father, her large eyes the same shade of icy blue as her mother's, and her hair just as golden. "I don't know", Ishin sighed, the dread spilling out his heart to wash over his face like a rising tide. What father knew not where his own daughter walked? "Does she look like me?", the girl asked, a young child's curiosity shoving her questions his way. "Heh", Ishin smiled, small but warm like the setting sun, and calm like nature before a storm, "She's taller", he teased, "You will meet her in due time, little one. You need only know she is out there. Somewhere". Her round face lit by curiosity, the young girl's eyes lifted to meet her father's as she probed him for more. "But if my mother isn't hers, who is?", she asked, confusion and intrigue wrinkling her brow.

Rising to his feet, the white blade of his sword glimmering from the gaze of the nearby fire, Ishin turned his daughter round till her eyes faced not his - but the cave's entrance. "You talk more than your sister does, girl. But it is time to train. Fetch your sword and draw it", Ishin ordered, his hand gripping the nape of her neck like a wolf carrying it's cub by the back of the neck. "Come now, Ishin", a voice echoed, floating into the cave like a velvet tune. "Let the girl rest", the voice continued, and a woman - Aiko - entered the cave with a black stone in her grasp. She was tall. Her armor gleamed like silver, and her dark hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. Her lilac eyes met his, and she smiled, "Let her play today. Besides, as it stands you have something else in need of your attention", she paused, glancing down at the stone humming a low tune in her hand. "Hrm... very well", Ishin grumbled, eyebrows knitting together in a scowl as his daughter giggled and tossed her to the ground before darting out the cave.

"Is this it?", he asked, his breath misting in the cold air, his calloused fingers grazing hers as they plucked the stone from her hand. "It is", Aiko answered, her eyes heavy with concern. "And the low hum?", he pressed, hazel eyes locked on hers. "It is as we feared. The stone is but a shard broken from the true artifact. But it does what the Keijijo of old intended. To warn them of the coming of Ezra Strix. This low him... he is still far.. but he draws nearer each day", Aiko explained. "The girl-", she said, cut off by Ishin's realization, "Is no longer safe". Eyes shut and his breath calm, Ishin swallowed the lump in his throat, silenced the father's fear in his heart and opened his eyes as they glowed white. "I know what I must do", the Black Dragon said, sword drawn and his sure strides carrying him out the cave as Aiko's voice followed him in alarm, "And what is that!?".

"I will cut down Ezra Strix. And you will keep the girl safe and stay out of my way".