He wasn’t so sure about that, but he would trust his friend. With a nod, Kato walked off to mount his horse.

Concerned, Ryuichi took the reins of his own horse and led it toward Koichi.

His teacher paused to arch a brow at him. “Something wrong?”

“I saw Kato’s shadow. It’s a strange color.”

“He’s torn in this fight. He doesn’t know which side is the correct one.”

Ryuichi looked at his own shadow—which, to his surprise, appeared normal. “And I’m not?”

Koichi shook his head. “You have a very rigid sense of right and wrong. Don’t lose your conviction.” And with that, he rode off.

Ryuichi wasn’t sure what to think of that. Was it good?

He had no idea. But he didn’t want to fall behind. Putting his helmet on, he mounted his horse, then kicked it forward.

His friends had no idea what they were riding out to face.

He did.

His heart heavy, he glanced around, wishing he could see the future. The last thing he wanted was for any of his friends to be harmed.

Battle was uncertain. Fickle. Even more so than Masaru. Maybe that was why. Masaru had battled so much that he knew just how unpredictable and dangerous it could be.

I will endure.

Ryuichi wouldn’t be defeated. He couldn’t afford to. If he failed . . .

His friends would pay the dearest price.

After all, this was his fault. He’d opened the gate. Whether he intended to or not, he was the one who had let his father out into the world.

And he was the only one who could banish his father back to the nether realm.

I won’t fail.

His resolve was all he had now. It lived inside him like a breathing person. A hungry fire that consumed his soul.

No one else could do this.

He alone commanded the gates.

You rule the shadows . . .

He winced at his shadow’s voice again. But it was right.

Kage-taro. Prince of Shadows.

Those words flowed through him. For the first time, he understood what it meant. What they risked.

Ryuichi let out a deep breath as everyone mounted, and they began the journey that some of them wouldn’t return from.

He kept his gaze on Kasumi while Takara rode by his side. Silence rang out so loudly that it made his ears ring. No one spoke a single word. They all knew what was at stake, and that bitter reality hung over them like a pall.

He only heard his heartbeat. Felt the sweat that rolled down his neck and back.

Until he heard the shadows . . .

Suddenly, everything around him was alive.

Come home, son. You don’t belong with them.

He tightened his grip on the reins. How could his father reach out to him?

“Are you all right?”