The sun beat down on Ren's back as he worked in the rice paddies. Sweat stung his eyes, and his muscles ached. It was backbreaking work, the same work he'd done every day since he was old enough to walk. He glanced over at the village, where he could hear the sounds of laughter and training. The other young men, the ones with powerful beasts, were preparing for the day's events. The annual Beast Festival was coming soon, a time of contests and celebrations. Ren felt a pang of bitterness. He'd never been allowed to participate. Shiro, his small white snake, was simply too weak.
A shadow fell over him, and Ren looked up to see a group of young men approaching. They were led by Kenzo, a boy with a massive, fire-breathing hound. "Look who it is," Kenzo sneered. "The rice farmer." His friends laughed. Ren clenched his fists, but his expression remained calm. He knew he couldn't win a fight against them. Not without Shiro. "Leave me alone, Kenzo," he said, his voice tight but even. Kenzo chuckled. "Or what? Your little worm will bite me?" He spat on the ground near Shiro's basket. The snake hissed, its red eyes flashing. Ren's hand went to the red snake symbol on his arm, and it pulsed with a sudden heat. He ignored it. It was just a mark. It didn't mean anything.
"Just go," Ren said, turning back to his work. But Kenzo wasn't finished. He kicked over Shiro's basket, sending the snake slithering into the mud. "You're a disgrace to this village," he said. "Your father would be ashamed." Ren's eyes darkened. "My father understood the value of patience," he said, his voice dangerously quiet. "A virtue you clearly lack. Perhaps if you spent less time bullying those weaker than you, you might learn something of value." The other boys shifted uncomfortably. Ren knelt and gently scooped up Shiro, cleaning it with his own tunic. He placed the snake back in its basket, his movements slow and deliberate. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he said, standing and picking up his tools, "I have work to do." He turned to leave, but Kenzo, enraged, lunged at him.
Before Kenzo could reach him, a blur of movement caught Ren's eye. A figure landed between them, cloaked and hooded, their face obscured by shadow. "Enough," they said, their voice low and commanding. Kenzo froze, a flicker of fear in his eyes. He and his friends exchanged nervous glances, then turned and fled. The figure turned to Ren, their gaze intense. "Are you alright?" they asked. Ren stared, speechless. He'd never seen this person before. "Who are you?" he finally managed to ask. The figure hesitated, then simply said, "Someone who recognizes potential." And with that, they vanished into the trees.