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After the dragon's departure,
The people panic. It is obvious that they are being punished for neglecting their worship. Many open their homes to Riku, intending to hide him away. Some offer to go in his stead. All, including Riku himself, know that they will be killed if he is not handed over.
As he looks up at the white mountain towering above their homes, Riku remembers his father. With a smile, he tells the villagers he will trick the dragon and return, knowing his honor will not let him.
Alone, Riku arrives at the shrine.
"Unbound," Kenshō observes, serpentine body blocking out the sun. "You come willingly?"
"Dragon," Riku starts in a beseeching tone, but is shrilly interrupted.
"Dragon! What insolence! How dare you refer to me so casually! Dragon! Dragon! I am inimitable. You will honor me with my name, Kenshō, and do well to thank me."
"Kenshō?" Riku is unfazed by its outburst. "You are male?"
Kenshō intends to disagree, having thus far been something else. As its gaze falls upon Riku, still in his fine robes, envy simmers back up its throat. "Yes," he says, "Like you."
"Kenshō... this lonesome one must ask something of you. Before I am sacrificed, honor my last requests."
"Who are you to make requests? What stops me from dropping your head?"
"My apologies," Riku replies, "For assuming you capable."
"What is the first of your paltry tasks?"
"What is the first of your paltry tasks?"
"Without me to help, many will go hungry. Hunt something that will feed the village for a while."
With his maw hanging wide open, Kenshō spends a day sweeping through the forests and gathering every last wolf between his razor sharp teeth.
"Simple,"
"Simple,"
Kenshō declares upon his return. "Was that all?"
"If you are not too tired... this orphaned one asks that you also clear the snow from his roof. My grandmother is too old and my sister is too small — Without me, our home will cave."
"Tire?" With a great inhale, Kenshō blows the snow off of every roof in the valley. "Do not suggest me weak."
Riku's third request,
Riku's third request,
Is for Kenshō to gather dry firewood for the home's hearth and stockpile.
With one wave of his arm, Kenshō’s ice and wind fell every tree on the left side of the valley. He spends half a day collecting and distributing it amongst all the houses.
"If you mean to challenge me,"
"If you mean to challenge me,"
The dragon says, "You are more of a fool than I took you."
"Yes," Riku replies, quiet. "This fool humbly requests you break a hole in the stream's ice. For most, it is a two person job... only I could do it alone."
With one thump of his massive tail, Kenshō shatters all the ice and thaws the stream forever.
"Thawed forever?"
"Thawed forever?"
Riku becomes enraged. "You can banish the ice and snow forever. Do you realize how many you have killed? You will thaw the sky. Now."
"Impudent creature, you confuse horses for cattle. The storm is a consequence of my existence. I cannot control it."
Riku's retort is interrupted by his own rasping coughs. Kenshō recognizes he is unusually pale.
"What is the matter with you?"
"Nevermind it. Let us find something you can control. My final request is to eat my grandmother's soup. The cold has damaged her hands; usually I am there to help with the cooking..."
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