The Unexpected Discovery

The cherry blossoms danced quietly in the air, leaving a gentle pink trail on Kaito's lean little shoulders. He strolled through the lively market streets, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of untold adventures. The sweet scent of blossoms mixed with fresh produce and the chatter of busy vendors. "What a day for mysteries!" Kaito exclaimed to himself, his smile stretching ear to ear.

At a corner of the market sat an old vendor with an assortment of peculiar trinkets. Kaito's eyes widened at the sight of an ancient compass, its brass casing dulled with age but radiating a mysterious allure nonetheless. "Curious thing, isn’t it?" the vendor said, winking. Kaito nodded, feeling an unexplainable pull towards it and soon had the compass snug in his pocket.

With nothing but excitement leading the way, Kaito wandered beyond the market, into the lush embrace of the nearby mountains. As sunlight filtered through the whispering leaves, the compass began to act peculiarly—its needle swung wildly, as if guiding him somewhere of great import.

"That's odd," murmured Kaito, his sense of adventure brimming over. He followed the compass faithfully, deeper into the forest, until he found himself in a clearing—with scales shining in the dappled sun, a dragon lay ensnared in a net of thick, cruel vines. Jaw dropping, Kaito felt his heart pounding. Could he really be looking at a dragon?

He stepped closer, the weight of the moment pressing heavily around him. His breath caught in awe yet tinged with determination. This creature needed help, and Kaito knew just the boy for the job.

Silent Cries

Kaito edged closer to the dragon, whose scales shimmered with a mixture of emerald and gold. "I'm Kaito," he said, heart pounding but voice steady. "I want to help you... if you'll let me." The dragon's deep eyes met his, wary but curious.

"You're not afraid?" Hiroshi’s voice rumbled through his mind, clear despite the absence of spoken words.

"A little," Kaito admitted, "but my compass led me here, so there must be a reason."

Taking a deep breath, Kaito pulled a small knife from his backpack—the one he’d used countless times on small branches but never imagined it would help free a dragon. Gently, he started cutting.

Suddenly, the trees rustled ominously, though no wind stirred the leaves. Kaito froze. "Did you hear that?"

"We're not alone," the dragon replied, eyes narrowing.

Far away in town, Yuuna stood in Kaito's room. His compass—gone. Panic prickled through her. "Where could he be?" Instinctively, she decided to search near the mountains, hoping to find a clue or her adventurous friend.