Akatsuki no Yona [Chapter 105]

Munching on a fruit, Zeno doesn’t know how many hundred of years had passed for he has no way of counting it in detail. Then, he sees some birds. After feeding them some pieces of fruit, they flew away. He thinks that now, the power of the five tribes in Kouka is at their strongest. From time to time, there is civil unrest caused by fighting over who’ll become king. Even if there are some conflicts with other countries’ gozoku [/prominent clan = the powerful and rich families], but he no longer fight at the battlefield with a sword against the army just like before. People rely on what is known a physical body’s vessel and were born to study then returns to the sky. That is so-called fate [/life span]. He mutters that he’s saying things at random. Time’s passage is astonishingly hard that it once led to an intense frustration for him as if it is cutting into his body. At that time, it is the dragon’s medallion that caused his scattered and smashed heart to once again be at its stable and tranquil state. Probably at that time, the king was aware of his [Zeno] fate so he bestowed upon him his amulet. With it, Zeno is the one asking for the dragon god’s protection.

When he left the city, he will give that medallion to his priest successor. He was distressed as if his insides are cut into pieces but to keep the city people’s heart intact, because of Hiryuu’s death, this symbol, the gods’ medallion, is essential. It wasn’t long when he left the city when.. He felt a clink sound. He found the medallion on his neck. The medallion came back to his side. End flashback. He wonders if it is because it is Hiryuu’s last wish or because there is some reason for this medallion that only he can hold it. He notices a young boar whose leg was hit by an arrow. When Kaya passed away, he unknowingly became an irresolute loafer [/wanderer] youngster and after his head had calm down a bit, he finally thought of it. No matter how many years had passed, no matter how the world went through change, quietly but truly, there is a constant new generation that is passing on White Dragon, Blue Dragon and Green Dragon’s strength. While petting the young boar whose foot he bandaged, Zeno thinks that originally, it only comes up as a bit of flaw for it appears that in no time, each and every weak village is falling into pieces.

Zeno sees mother boar with siblings boar so he let the young boar go back to its family. He thinks that however even if the disputes or perhaps crisis is approaching, strangely enough, only the dragons’ strength didn’t disappear. It is as if there is this strong power that is protecting the descendants’ bloodline. Furthermore, it is only the Yellow Dragon’s power that cannot be passed on to anyone, and was bestowed an everlasting life. Basically, the so-called four dragons were born and will die for Hiryuu. “But..obviously King Hiryuu is no longer around..*realizes something*..King Hiryuu will be resurrected!? No..but could it be I’ll be able to see the king again..? Could it be, perhaps, it is possible that the four dragon soldiers can once again gather..!? Even if they’ve gathered, it really isn’t White and the others who coming back but.. No matter how years had passed, the color of this dragon medallion never fades and perhaps, Hiryuu will be resurrected. The meaning of my existence is in this..” He decides that now, for the time being, he’ll keep watch this country’s future which is Hiryuu’s treasure. Perhaps, it is a hundred or thousand years, just in case there is a day, there will be a day.. And in the darkness, there is light.

Bathing young Kija sees a bright star in the sky. He quickly takes his cape to cover himself then climbs up the tree. And, he sees Zeno. He asks you are.. Zeno asks if this is his [Kija] special place, sorry [for intruding]. Dripping wet, Kija asks who he is, he doesn’t seem to be a bandit, and it seems that he has some presence.. Zeno tells him that he is just a traveler that’s all so don’t mind him. He tells Kija that compared to that, look, little brother, it’s the dawn’s [/daybreak] light. They look at the star. Kija says that it seems that star is calling out to him. Zeno says is that so. “Finally, will be born..our scarlet light.” He continues to say that but whether it will become a true light, he would have to see that person himself. It has been a thousand or two thousand years..forget it, he already waited for such a long time and it would now be just a bit of wait. Staring at him, Kija says that in the end, he [Zeno] has something.., then he sneezes. Later on, Zeno helps Kija dress up. Zeno tells him that he’ll catch a cold if he takes a bath so early in the morning. Kija says that it is alright.

While putting on Kija’s coat, Zeno sees the claw scar on Kija’s back. Zeno says that he bears a serious thing on his back. Thinking that it was a scar left by Kija’s predecessor, Zeno says that when he grows big, it will become lighter. Kija says that it is okay even if this scar didn’t disappear, and it is just that when the villagers see the scar, they would have a sad expression so he’ll take a bath while everyone is sleeping in the morning. Kija looks surprised then he turns to Zeno to say that he talked too much for unexpectedly, Zeno made him lower his guard even if they met for the first time. Just when Kija asks who he really is, the others are calling out to Kija. Zeno starts to bid Kija goodbye. Blushing, Kija excitedly asks could he be.. Zeno smiles and says that if they have fate, then, they will meet each other again, definitely will. The others have found Kija and they ask if he is okay. Someone says that there is a suspicious person there, quickly chase after him. Kija tells him to stop and do not chase after that person. And, he looks at fleeing Zeno. A decorated ball bounces near Shina’s foot. He picks it up and starts looking around.

Smiling Zeno tells him that he is giving it to him. “It’s a gift.” Shina thanks him and drops the ball. After Zeno returns the ball, Shina says about that.. Then, his predecessor calls out to Shina and tells him not to wander about. Zeno apologizes for calling Shina out. He notices that the predecessor’s life is already not long. Zeno tells Shina to properly cherish that ‘brother’. Shina says that he really..cherishes.. Zeno sadly smiles and pats Shina’s head. He says that if they’ll meet each other again, at that time, they’ll play together. The predecessor asks Shina who that is. Holding the ball, Shina says that he gave this to him. The predecessor asks if it is a travelling merchant. Shina says no, it is the Yellow Dragon. The predecessor asks what he is saying. Zeno quietly goes in some prisonlike hut and sees beaten up and chained Jeha. He mutters that if Green knew of this kind of situation, he’ll definitely be furious. Zeno takes off his coat and puts it on Jeha. He comments that it is really foolish for them to bound the Green Dragon onto the ground when obviously no one can do that.

Then, Zeno is walking around the cliff and into the forest. He wonders out loud if Hiryuu’s soul that will be reborn in this earth is for him to protect the country or establish a country. Or, could it be for the four dragons who longed for Hiryuu, so he is returning here once again. “Again, a little bit of journey for a while, perhaps, I will be able to find the meaning of my existence with the new Hiryuu’s life path. ..perhaps, my wish can also come true. Not afraid..for Zeno is the most expert in waiting..” End Dream/Flashback. Zeno wakes up from Yona and the dragons calling out to him. Kija asks him until when does he plan to sleep. Yona says that it is already noon. Jeha says that shouldn’t old people wake up very early. Yona happily says that a lot of things had happened so Zeno is also very tired so let him sleep for a while. Zeno gestures for them to come nearer. Kija asks why. Jeha asks if he couldn’t move. Then, Zeno happily pulls them all down to him. He laughs and says, nice, nice. [<- good kids] Shina asks if this is push down game. Zeno smiles and says that everyone has grown up.

Comment: And, the flashback is finally over. So, we learned that he got the travel bug after Kaya passed away. Then, he finally realized of the possibility of Hiryuu being reborn based on his observations. Yet, he still seemed to end up travelling around afterwards. Of the reasons why Hiryuu is coming back, I didn’t thought of it is as for the dragons’ sake. He already mentioned protect country or establish country which is possible for Yona though it is inconclusive if that is what she wants to do. But for dragons’ sake..hm..is it to be satisfied that they were able to serve Hiryuu once again? Or, is it to be free of the dragon’s blood since it caused them suffering especially the descendants. Or, maybe both? If that is so, based on Zeno’s observations, Yona would have to help those poor villages who are getting caught with the bigger tribes and other countries’ disputes/wars. That might be Hiryuu’s unfinished business so he was reborn.

And, after that, the dragons would probably be free from their blood. For Zeno, that release would be death but what about the other dragons? Would it also be death = no heirs? Or it would be just taken away like how the blood was just given to them? Anyway, since there is a ‘sign’, Zeno decides to check on his would-be buddies in the future. I’m not sure if it was okay for him to just help them out that way or he just doesn’t want to meddle too much until they definitely become part of reborn Hiryuu’s group. Probably like he didn’t meddle much with Yona before? If they are ‘worthy dragons’? Well, it seems that Kija and Shina has forgotten about meeting with Zeno. So, we are back to the present and let’s see how things go based on the possibilities that Zeno mentioned of what the new Hiryuu will do this time around. Also, I now think the prophecy is for Yona only hence there was no ‘sword’ and Zeno wasn’t exactly a ‘shield’ for Hiryuu before. Scans by 红莲汉化组

Quote of the day:

Life has a flow – a certain direction: Life takes us by surprise and orders us to move toward the unknown – even when we don’t want to and when we think we don’t need to. No matter how many detours and adjustments it made, the caravan moved toward the same compass point. Once obstacles were overcome, it returned to its course, sighting on a star that indicated the location of the oasis. ~ from Paul Coelho’s novel “The Alchemist”.