5 YEARS LATER

Chrysella and Sirana were training in the schoolyard. They were up and coming swordsman who wished to serve the empire with all their heart.

Sirana was skeptical of Chysella after the matter with the ‘other’ one that father had took in when they first met. However, after clashing in battle and rivaling her in swordsmanship, she could only see her as a rival, considering she had beaten all the other boys in her age group, and a sister considering their five years together.

Chyrsella’s swordsmanship was crisp and acrobatic, like an assassin. Sirana fought directly, like her father. As they clashed, the usual crowd began encircling them in awe. Some watched for their swordplay, while others only came to gaze upon their beauty.

Chyrsella’s cyan eyes clashed nicely with her silver hair. She tied it into one long pony tail near the base of her neck. Her hair never got too long as it was always cut down by Sirana’s quick movements.

Sirana had red hair like her mother, but blue eyes as well. If not for Chyrsella’s silver hair, outsiders would not question that that they were blood related, if they ever proclaimed so. Her hair flat, but curly near the ends, a majority of her face was covered by her hair, but her eyes pierced through them.

They were practicing with real swords. The crowd would occasionally lose their breathe time after time as close encounters with instant death were seen on both sides of the battle.

Drenched in sweat, they both sheathed their swords at their waists. Having a good fight, they smiled at each other. At first Chyrsella didn’t talk much, but as she received the warmth of Gillius’s family, she let them into her heart.

She engaged Sirana in conversation first as the crowd of students and teachers clapped for their outstanding performance.

“At first you fought like a brute, but now you move a lot better after copying me.” Chyrsella said arrogantly.

“I-I didn’t copy you! Hmph.” As mature and amazing as they were, they were still children.

“You’re just jealous because I’m better than you now” Sirana retorted.

A vein popped out of Chyrsella’s head as they began round 7. Not only were they skilled, they also possessed quite a lot of stamina for their age.

Two figures looked at them from the balcony of the headmaster’s room. Gillius had come to see how they were faring in the prestigious Yewac Academy. Though, he was mostly scared for Chyrsella, as the church’s influence was stronger here than in Hergathor, his hometown. Seeing their fellow students look at them in awe, it seemed Gillius was troubled for no reason. He let out a heavy sigh and smiled warmly.

“Smiling doesn’t suit you, Gillius.” Headmaster Gavin said.

Gillius scrunched his face in embarrassment.

“See? I told you. They’re fine. Now go back to your kids. I’m sure your wife is having a hard time controlling those devils.”

“Hahaha. Indeed Gavin. I shall go back. Please watch over my children.” Gillius bowed his head towards his old friend.

“To think the proud Gillius would bow to me. I guess a wife and children truly neuters a man.” Gavin expected Gillius to retort, but he humbly kept bowing. “Hah,” he sighed lightly, “I get it. I get it. Now go to your wife before those kids give her a heart attack.”

“Thank you, Gavin.” Gillius left as quick as he came.

Gavin recalled the old memories of battle he had with Gillius. He grinned to himself, closed the balcony doors, and went back to his paperwork.

*****

After my meeting with the goddess, the beasts no longer ignored me. She left me at the center of the island, which she called the burial site of Ryell. I didn’t know who he was, but he must have been powerful enough to subdue all these creatures if his burial site is so deep into the island.

After waking from my consciousness, the woman was gone. I didn’t know why any beasts did not attack me in my sleep, but as I explored the area around me, chunks of beasts were scattered around the vicinity like a circle, as if proclaiming territory.

Beasts never attacked me as long as I stayed within this circle, and I could feel the woman watching me when I slept. I stayed within this circle for a few days. However, it could’ve been a dream, but a dark figure looked at me in disappointment while I was in a deep sleep. It must have been the goddess, I decided myself.

The goddess told me that if I survive, she will let me return in ten years. Who knows how long this protective circle would last? The thought stayed in my mind the first time I slept peacefully within her territory. That look of disappointment… was probably because I was afraid of leaving a mother’s protection… like a little boy.

I decided to leave her territory, only to return after the ten years had passed.

As I traversed the darkness, I saw a large reptilian creature eyeing a small, black wolf. The wolf was shaking violently. It knew it would not survive this encounter. But, neither would I if I intervened.

As the reptilian creature lunged at the small wolf, I pushed it out of the way. I saw it nearing towards me… I thought this was the end. After I was granted power and possibly a way back, I would die before using the ‘power’ that was granted to me. I let go. Of life. Of returning home. Suddenly, Gillius words as he departed into the sea rushed to the front of his mind like a waterfall.

“I will not die!” I screamed in defiance at the reptilian as my end came near. At that moment, horns protruded through my head, which was extremely painful. It felt like my skull was forcibly stretched towards my forehead, and burst through my skin. Starting from the fresh, white. rigid horns, a dark gray colored my whole body, top to bottom.

The blow hit me square in the abdomen midair as I flew, breaking numerous amounts of thick trees. But I was still alive. At least I thought I was, as I was still breathing and could feel my broken bones snapping back together, regenerating stronger than before. My arm had also completely regenerated. Even though I wasn't completely healed, I got up and ran as I bones eventually straightened my running posture and grabbed the small wolf.

I ran like my life depended on it. And it did. There wasn’t even an increase in speed in this form. The reptilian didn’t bother to run after us. If it did, I fear the dog and I would have been ended.

I ended up in a cave with the pup in my hands. I smiled in relief and my form slowly disintegrated like ash falling off my skin. My arm also disintegrated to my dismay, but it was a joy nonetheless having it back for a while.

Sighing, I looked at the small pup in my hands. It looked very familiar to the wolf the goddess had annihilated. But I decided to not think about it. I named it Krystal, mostly because it reminded me of that other wolf.

After attempting to fight the beasts around me for five years, always ending in me narrowly escaping with my life and Krystal’s, not to mention the excruciating pain, I finally found a truly humanoid beast. Or was it even a beast at all? I couldn’t tell. But that didn’t stop me from eyeing the sword in its hand. It was white as a dove and contrasted nicely to the perpetual darkness of Diatie.

I wanted to avoid it, but after seeing it cut down a beast with one movement of his hand like butter, I knew I needed to have it no matter what. There was a blue stream around the hilt and thought that it was probably mana emanating from the blade.

Then it dawned on me. Maybe the reason I wasn’t able to defeat the beasts was because they could only be damaged through mana? I put my observation in the corner of my mind.

He left the beast with the blade alone. At his level, he would die instantly and he knew that.

Krystal was ready to fight and growled at it. I quickly patted her head trying to soothe her bloodlust. She was considerably bigger, but small nonetheless. No crystals had formed over her body like the ‘other’ one. She wasn’t strong either, weaker than me really. But she was the only comrade I’ve had the past five years. She was the closest thing to family I had, closer than Gillius even.

She tried to brush away my hand violently, but was already on her back waiting for me scratch her stomach. She wagged her tail happily and we went back into the cave.

On our way, I would still look back at the humanoid creature. He was like a human, but made completely of gaseous darkness. He looked directly at me, nodded, and continued on its way, leaving corpses of beast in its wake.