Page 25 of Son of Shadows

It was only over the last few weeks of finding out about his father and fighting Ryukage’s army that he’d learned he could be more.

That he had a destiny he’d never known about.

Never once had he thought about where he wanted to end up. Or how he intended to get there. No wonder he’d always felt like a victim of uncaring fate.

Because Ryuichi had been.

Everyone else had made decisions for him, and he’d gone along without question.

Now the choice was his: Live up to his destiny. Or be average.

This was his time to shine, and he intended to embrace it. He was choosing not only for his right to live but to thrive in this world.

The gods were many things to him, but he’d never known them to be kind or generous.

Now he understood why.

They only helped those who helped themselves.

Ryuichi looked in Katsu’s eyes, this time with determination and grit. “Duty. I have a responsibility to this world.”

Katsu sneered at him. “What arrogance is this? Do you think yourself so important that the world would cease to function without you?”

Hardly. If he died this instant, the world would find a way to go on, and the only ones to miss him would be his handful of friends.

Maybe his shadow.

Slowly, Ryuichi stood up to face not only Katsu but his own worst fears. “That’s not what I meant. My fight with my father caused all this, and it’s my duty and honor to clean up our mess. I didn’t ask to be born. I didn’t ask to be abandoned. I didn’t ask for any of this, but here I am, and it’s on my shoulders. It doesn’t matter if this world doesn’t want to be saved. The only thing that matters is that I have a responsibility. One I’ll never abandon even if it kills me. I’ll save the world even while it kicks and screams in defiance.”

He was his father’s son, after all.

All his life he’d wanted power. He’d lamented the pain and suffering he had to endure. Had resented his own weakness.

Now he felt that he understood the Ryukage far more than he’d ever wanted to. This was what drove a man to crave power at any cost. The kind of madness that swirled in his blood.

Ryuichi wasn’t afraid of power.

Not any longer.

This was his destiny. And as long as he lived, he would wield it for good.

He might share the blood of his father, but he would never become his father.

I am my mother’s son.

And he would make her proud.

Ryuichi returned to his corner and picked up his sword. “I’m ready when you are, Sensei.”

Once again the tengu moved so fast that Ryuichi couldn’t see it. He cried out in pain.

Katsu angled his wooden sword at Ryuichi’s neck. “I thought you were the son of the Shadow Dragon. How is it that you can’t stop an average tengu from hitting you?”

Average tengu? Seriously?

No other tengu that Ryuichi had ever met moved that fast. It was incredible.

“It would help if I could see you when you move, Sensei.”