Hikaru, a 24-year-old man, was walking through the city streets after an exhausting day at work. Routine and stress had left him drained, and all he longed for was the comfort of home and his favorite video game. However, this day was special, for destiny was about to take an unexpected turn.
Suddenly, the clear sky darkened rapidly and a violent storm erupted out of nowhere. In an instant, a lightning bolt fell from the heavens, illuminating the night with a blinding flash. Hikaru had no time to react; the impact hurled him into darkness, and his life was extinguished.
When he opened his eyes, Hikaru realized he was surrounded by radiant white clouds. It was a surreal, glowing, ethereal landscape that made him feel as if he were dreaming. Amidst his astonishment, a figure materialized before him: a goddess, radiant and elegant, with an aura that lit up the place.
Upon seeing him, the goddess knelt down, visibly distressed.
—Forgive me! —she pleaded in a voice full of anguish— I killed you by mistake!
Still dazed, Hikaru tried to appear understanding.
—It's alright, mistakes happen sometimes.
The goddess looked up, her face filled with regret.
—I cannot let this go unpunished. I took your life before its time… fifty-six years too soon, to be exact.
A knot tightened in Hikaru's stomach as sadness and confusion welled within him.
—What will become of me now? —he asked in a trembling voice.
The goddess sat beside him, a spark of hope shining in her expression.
—I offer you a second chance. You may go to heaven, or if you prefer… be reborn in another world.
Intrigued, Hikaru asked:
—Another world?
The goddess smiled.
—Yes, a world of fantasy and magic, filled with wondrous creatures. It is not only home to humans, but also many other races.
—Other races? —Hikaru repeated, astonished.
The goddess leaned closer, speaking eagerly.
—Yes, there are elves, dwarves, demi-humans, and dragons. Among them also exist demigods. They bear both human and fox-like traits, and they coexist peacefully with most races—except for the dragons.
Hikaru frowned.
—Wait, why don't the demigods get along with the dragons?
—I don't have much time —the goddess replied urgently—. If you do not decide soon, your soul will ascend to heaven. What is your choice?
Hikaru felt time slipping away. That world she described sounded fascinating, brimming with magic and adventure. Despite his confusion, the chance to live in such an extraordinary place stole his breath away.
—I am ready to be reborn —he declared with determination—. I want to experience that world.
The goddess fixed her gaze on him as the ground beneath his feet began to shine.
—Then prepare yourself —she declared—. Before I leave you, I must warn you: there are dangerous monsters in that world. Be careful.
As the light enveloped him, the goddess made one last appearance.
—My name is Athena, goddess of wisdom. I wish you the best of luck in your new life.
With those words, the light grew stronger, and once again darkness consumed him.
When Hikaru opened his eyes, he was no longer the same. He found himself in a warm, welcoming place—a wooden temple with a serene atmosphere. He realized he was lying on the ground, and his gaze met a familiar sight: a woman with snow-white hair and deep blue eyes, who had just given birth.
Cradling her newborn child in her arms, the woman smiled tenderly.
—Your name shall be Jotaro —she announced, filling the room with joy.
Jotaro, the new name that now belonged to him, was overwhelmed by the love radiating from his mother. She is beautiful, he thought.
Nearby, he saw a man who appeared to be his father. He had black hair and crimson eyes, with sharp, striking features. He was clearly a demigod, and Jotaro recalled the goddess's words about them. His eyes widened with each new revelation.
Looking at his parents, he noticed that both bore pointed ears—the mark of demigods. He remembered Athena's description of those powerful beings of magic who resembled gods themselves.
—Look, he has the same hair color as his mother, doesn't he, Takara? —said Akimitsu, the father.
—You're right, Akimitsu —replied Takara with a loving smile.
Jotaro absorbed their names, feeling that they were now a fundamental part of his new life. The room around him was cozy, adorned with soft colors and decorations that spoke of a rich culture.
As little Jotaro visually explored his new home, an energy awakened within him. He was thrilled by the thought of growing up as the child of demigods. The idea of venturing into a world full of magic and wondrous creatures filled him with excitement.
With fiery determination, Jotaro spoke within his mind:
—I want to grow quickly and explore everything this world has to offer.
The promise of a new life as the child of demigods was unfolding before him, and he could not wait for his adventure to begin. Jotaro knew his story was only beginning, and with each passing day, he felt more prepared to face the destiny the goddess Athena had set before him.
A few years after Hikaru's rebirth—now known as Jotaro—he found himself hunting in the forest near his home, using the agility and skills he had inherited from his demigod parents.
At the age of six, he already felt stronger and more capable than he had ever imagined, with a special connection to the magic that emanated from the land. The stories he had heard about his lineage and the feats of his ancestors filled him with pride and a burning thirst for adventure.
Jotaro had set out with a small bow that his father, Akimitsu, had given him, focusing on catching some small animal for his dinner. As he made his way through the trees, his mind filled with fantasies of dragons and heroes, and his heart pounded with every whisper of the leaves.
Suddenly, he heard a peculiar sound, one that resonated like a faint whisper. Intrigued, he cautiously approached, his instincts sharpened like those of a true hunter. What he found made him stop in his tracks:
A small fox with golden fur was trapped in a hunting net made with some kind of magic. The fox's deep yellow eyes, full of fear, contrasted with its beauty.
—Don't worry, little one! —Jotaro said softly, trying to calm it down— I'll help you.
With trembling hands, Jotaro approached and examined the hunting net. It was no ordinary trap; he quickly recognized that it was imbued with magic. Remembering his mother's lessons about using magic, Jotaro closed his eyes and focused. He felt the power flowing within him, as if the magical essence of the surroundings aligned with him.
—Release this spell! —he murmured with determination.
With a faint glow, the hunting net began to shine before vanishing. The fox, now free, turned to Jotaro and gave thanks with a soft pant. To his surprise, the animal didn't flee but instead approached and curled up at his feet.
—Are you a demigod? —asked the fox, its voice a soft, enchanting melody.
Jotaro, stunned, stepped forward slowly. He had heard stories of beings that could speak, but he never expected it to happen before his very eyes. The fox, still rubbing against him, continued.
—I am Kira, the guardian of the forest. I see you have a kind heart. You have a great future ahead, Jotaro. The magic within you is powerful.
Jotaro felt a surge of emotion. Not only did he carry the blood of demigods in his veins, but now he also had the chance to learn more about the magical world around him.
—Can you use magic? —Jotaro asked.
—Unfortunately, no, but I do know some spells. If you want, I can teach you a few.
—Really? —asked Jotaro, his voice full of hope.
Kira smiled, revealing an air of wisdom that defied her small size.
—Of course, young demigod. But remember, great power comes with great responsibility. I will teach you, but you must also learn to protect this forest and the creatures that live within it.
Jotaro's heart pounded, the promise of adventure and learning stitching itself into his mind. Everything he had wished for was materializing before him, and he felt with certainty that his life was only just beginning.
After their meeting in the forest, Jotaro and Kira headed toward the temple where Jotaro's parents lived. As they left the forest, the sun began to peek through the trees, casting a golden glow over the scene.
—Hey, I forgot to ask, what's your name?
—My name is Jotaro —Jotaro said with a smile.
—Alright.
—Hey, Kira, how did you end up trapped in that mana hunting net? —Jotaro asked curiously.
Kira sighed and began to tell her story.
—Well, I was walking through the forest looking for something to eat. Suddenly, I heard some voices, so I went to see where they came from. Just as I was approaching, some magic hunters threw that net at me so I couldn't escape.
—That sounds terrible —said Jotaro, his eyes wide with astonishment—. But then, why were you alone when I found you?
—It's because when those hunters tried to catch me, a cave bear appeared —Kira replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
—A cave bear? —Jotaro asked in surprise.
—Yes, a cave bear —Kira repeated—. Don't you know what cave bears are?
Jotaro fell silent for a moment. Finally, he admitted, a little embarrassed:
—The truth is, I don't.
Kira narrowed her eyes, intrigued.
—Of course you do! They're huge bears that live deep inside caves, and parts of their bodies are made of stone —Kira said, still confused—. You really don't know?
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Jotaro replied:
—I really don't know.
Hearing that Jotaro didn't know about cave bears, Kira looked at him curiously.
—Hey, Jotaro, how old are you? —she asked.
Jotaro, a little confused, said:
—I'm six years old. Can't you tell?
Kira stopped, and after looking him up and down, exclaimed:
—That's right, you are six years old!
Jotaro stood silently for a few seconds before asking:
—Really?
—I'm sorry, I didn't notice —Kira replied, a bit embarrassed.
—Why didn't you notice that I'm six years old? —Jotaro asked, genuinely curious.
Kira scratched her head and said:
—Well, as you can see, I'm just a little fox, so everything looks big to me.
Jotaro thought to himself: Is she really the guardian of the forest? I don't think she's an impostor, since she gives off a terrifying aura. His curiosity about Kira's true identity began to grow.
Suddenly, Kira shouted:
—Hey, Jotaro! Look, there's a village!
Hearing this, Jotaro stopped thinking and turned to look where Kira was pointing.
—Yes, yes, Kira, I know there's a village —Jotaro said in a tone of recognition.
As they approached the village, Jotaro took a different path from the main road.
—Where are you going? The village is this way —Kira asked.
—I'm going home —Jotaro replied.
—What do you mean, home? I can clearly see you're taking a different path than the village —Kira complained, intrigued.
—My home is next to the village, but it's on another path —Jotaro explained, keeping his steady pace.
Kira sighed, feeling a bit frustrated.
—Alright, then lead me to your home.
—Why did you sigh? —Jotaro asked, noticing her expression.
—It's nothing —Kira answered, trying to hide her interest in visiting the village.
As they walked, Jotaro asked:
—Hey, Kira, where are your parents?
Kira froze and remained silent for a few seconds before replying:
—I don't have any.
—Why don't you have parents? What happened? —Jotaro asked with concern.
—A few months after I was born, the magic hunters appeared. My parents tried to stop them from capturing me and ended up being captured themselves.
—But how could they capture them if you're the guardian of the forest? I mean, your parents should have been guardians too —said Jotaro.
Kira, half-angry and raising her voice, replied:
—They weren't.
—Why not? —Jotaro asked.
—When they captured my parents, they told me to run far away and never come back, no matter what. In the end, from running so much, I got lost. I was hungry and thirsty, I thought I was going to die, but suddenly a demi-human appeared and introduced himself as the guardian of the forest.
—The guardian of the forest?—asked Jotaro, intrigued.
—Yes, he gave me food and water. He was very kind, he even taught me some spells that he used, but I was only able to learn one of those spells —said Kira with a smile. But one day...
—One day? —asked Jotaro eagerly.
Kira took a deep breath and continued:
—One day, the guardian had to leave to fight against some hunters. He told me to hide and keep myself safe. I felt sad because I wanted to be by his side, but I knew there was nothing I could do. After that, I never heard from him again. In the end, I was named the guardian of the forest because I was the guardian's only disciple —said Kira, a little sadly.
Jotaro looked at her, feeling a mix of sadness and admiration, —I understand… It must have been hard for you to keep going all alone —said Jotaro. —But now you're with me, and I'm here to help you.
Kira blushed shyly and replied:
—Thank you, Jotaro. I didn't expect to meet someone as kind as you.
As they walked, they came across a group of children playing in the forest. Jotaro watched them as they laughed and pushed each other, and he felt nostalgic. It was a time that now seemed so far away to him, before his life had become so complicated. Kira noticed his sad gaze and asked:
—Are you okay?
—Yes, I was just thinking about how my life used to be before all this —said Jotaro, trying to smile.
—Sometimes the past is painful, but we can also create new memories, don't you think?—answered Kira, trying to cheer him up.
Jotaro nodded. As they approached his home, Jotaro felt the warmth radiating from the temple soothing his thoughts.
Suddenly, Kira interrupted his thoughts:
—Hey, Jotaro, is that your house?
Jotaro, distracted, didn't hear clearly.
—What did you say, Kira? —he asked.
—I asked if that's your house? —Kira repeated.
As he turned his head, Jotaro realized they had already arrived and replied:
—Yes, this is my house.
Kira looked at the temple with admiration.
—It's a temple. Well, that's what I expected from demigods. They live in temples so people and other races can bring them offerings —said Kira as they walked toward the entrance with Jotaro.
Jotaro opened the temple door.
—I'm back! —he announced.
At that moment, a sweet voice could be heard saying:
—Welcome home.
A woman with snow-white hair and deep blue eyes approached Jotaro.
—Welcome, Jotaro —said the woman, smiling.
Then her gaze fell on Kira.
—Well, I didn't expect my son to bring a woman home so soon, and on his first time out in the forest, no less.
Jotaro remained silent for a few seconds and then, surprised, shouted:
—You're a woman!
Kira, hearing this, answered ironically:
—Wasn't it obvious?
Jotaro, a little embarrassed, replied:
—I didn't notice.
—How could you not notice if I have a woman's voice? —asked Kira, sounding annoyed.
—Do you really have a woman's voice? —asked Jotaro, confused.
At that moment, Kira, feeling offended, tried to hit Jotaro, but his mother stopped her by stepping in between them.
—Hey, how about we have some tea? —suggested Jotaro's mother, easing the tension.
Kira relaxed and agreed, as did Jotaro.
Back in the kitchen, Jotaro asked his mother where his father was.
—Your father is helping the villagers who asked him to help build some houses —answered Jotaro's mother.
—Oh, I see —said Jotaro.
Suddenly, a question crossed his mind and he looked at Kira.
—Kira, can you hold a glass with your paws? —he asked, surprised by her nature.
—Of course not, that's what my human form is for —answered Kira with a smile.
—Alright —Jotaro replied.
—Wait, human form? —he asked, intrigued.
—Yes —Kira nodded, as she transformed into her human form.
Jotaro, seeing the transformation, was left speechless. Kira's human form was breathtaking —a young woman with golden hair and deep yellow eyes. She noticed his gaze and asked:
—Do I have something on my face?
—No, nothing on your face —said Jotaro, looking away. Damn it, why is this happening to me? —thought Jotaro.
Jotaro's mother turned to Kira.
—How old are you, dear?
—I'm 9 years old —answered Kira.
—9 years old? I thought you were 11 or 12 —she exclaimed.
Kira shrugged.
—Looks can be deceiving —she replied with a mischievous smile.
After chatting for a bit, tea was served. Jotaro sat at the table, feeling at ease. However, he decided he needed some time alone. After a couple of sips, he said:
—I'll go out for a bit, I need some fresh air.
He left the temple and, looking toward the forest, decided to climb a nearby tree, opening his magic book while resting on one of the branches.
There were a few minutes of peace, enjoying the sound of the leaves swaying in the wind. But suddenly, he heard Kira's voice calling from below.
—Jotaro!
Looking down, he saw Kira raising her hand.
—What is it? —asked Jotaro, raising his voice slightly.
—What are you doing up there? —asked Kira, surprisingly curious.
Jotaro climbed down from the tree and, with a shy smile, replied:
—I'm reading a book about magic —why do you ask?
Kira burst out laughing when she heard this.
—Nothing, I just thought it was funny seeing you sitting up there like a king of the trees.
Jotaro chuckled, and as he looked at the book, he realized he was in a moment of tranquility he had never experienced before. His interaction with Kira was beginning to open his mind to new possibilities.
—It really is quite a beautiful moment, don't you think? —said Jotaro, setting the book aside.
—Yes, it is. Sometimes we just need a few hours of rest from our usual routines —Kira replied with a smile.
As they enjoyed the calm of the forest and the sun began to paint the horizon with golden hues, Jotaro felt their bond growing stronger. After a moment of reflection, he gathered courage and turned to Kira.
—Hey, Kira... —he began nervously —I don't want this to just be a passing encounter. Would you like… to live with us?
Kira looked at him in surprise, her eyes shining.
—Live here? —she asked, incredulous.
—Yes, I'd like you to be part of our family. My mother would be delighted, and my father too, and that way you'd be safe from those hunters. We could explore together, learn magic… —Jotaro grew excited with the idea, his words carrying a genuine desire to keep her close.
Kira smiled, the idea resonating in her heart. The possibility of having a home and friends was more than she had ever hoped for. —That... would be wonderful, Jotaro. Thank you —replied Kira, her joy overflowing.
Both smiled, and in that moment, they knew their adventure together was only just beginning. Their bond grew even stronger, marking the start of a beautiful friendship that would lead them to explore not only the forest, but also the mysteries the future held for them.
Jotaro suddenly woke up, agitated and afraid, sweat dripping down his forehead. His heart raced wildly as he struggled to grasp reality.
—It was a dream! —he exclaimed, squeezing his eyes shut. The images of his childhood still vivid in his mind, when he was 6 years old, a time when his parents' laughter filled the air and nothing seemed to threaten his happiness.
—For a moment I thought I was 6 again... —he murmured, the lump in his throat tightening—, back when my parents were still alive...