The quiet rustle of steps trembled the grass, echoing from the darkness, and only small rays of moonlight pierced through the dense crowns of dark trees, illuminating a barefoot silver eyed figure walking along a beaten path. Beautiful, despite the dirt on her face, young girl. Dirty long hair the color of pure silver peeked out from under a hooded cloak. On her back rested a blade larger than herself.
A loud terrifying roar, like death cries, sounded from the surrounding utter darkness. The girl's face expressed no emotion, she was absolutely calm, as if this was already commonplace. The earth began to crack, as if a strong earthquake had begun, forcing the girl to draw her sword from its sheath. The earthquake grew stronger and stronger, and the girl gripped her sword tighter. Closing her eyes, she chose the moment and soared high into the sky. The opened moonlight illuminated dozens, if not hundreds, of giant monsters, tens of times larger than the girl and her sword. Giants. Monsters that looked like humans, except for their incredible size and lack of sexual organs, knocked down huge trees around them just by brushing against them. They walked with one goal, to kill this girl, like the rumble of the earth.
While in the sky, the girl swiftly fell into the mouth of one of the giants. A moment before impact, a silver flash lit up the whole space, as dozens of giant heads fell to the ground with a dull crash. The giants rushed at the girl from all sides, yet she stood calmly, holding her sword before her. The girl herself rushed into the crowd of giants charging at her, cutting each one down one after another, until only headless bodies of several hundred giants remained in the field. Casting a brief glance at them, the girl sheathed her sword and continued her way along the path in an unknown direction.
"Hitori, sooner or later he will punish you. While it is not too late you can still abandon your rebellious principles, give in and finally join us." spoke a strange voice, sounding like a boy of about twelve, coming from somewhere behind the trees hidden in the darkness.
"Never." came the girl's voice. It sounded clear, cold and confident. Pulling the sword, the girl rushed toward the source of the voice. Only after cutting the tree through, like a knife through butter, did she realize that no one was behind it. Putting away her sword, she continued to walk along the same path, disappearing into the darkness of the forest.
From Makoto's perspective:
"Please come inside, gentlemen." I heard before the woman and father went inside. Looking around once more, I followed them. Crowds of people were near this temple. Both workers, judging by their appearance, and city residents.
"Are you here for the first time?" she asked, walking down the long corridor.
"Yes, this is our first awakening." answered father.
"I see. There is nothing to worry about, it is an absolutely safe procedure." she explained.
The question of how the awakening procedure differed from self awakening remained open, but I did not dare to ask.
"We are almost there." the woman's voice was heard after a couple of turns.
Turning the next corner, we saw the trunk of a tree protruding from the wall that enveloped it. In the center of this trunk was a certain shard, radiating bright golden light, illuminating the whole room. In front of this shard, resembling an eight pointed star, stood a pedestal of white quartz. Beside it already stood three people in white cloaks like hers. I did not have time to examine everything before she spoke again,
"Mr. Barasu, I ask you to remain here and watch. Rey, please follow me." she said, extending her hand to Rey. Taking it, he went to the pedestal. Placing Rey on the pedestal, he grasped the shard with his right hand, while the church attendants held him. The essence of vis began to fill Rey's body, and by the flow it was clear that the attendants were stabilizing his condition. His eye color instantly changed to gold. Two or three minutes passed while he was in such a state, and when he removed his hand from the shard, his eyes returned to their normal color. He began to lose balance, but the church attendants held him, not letting him fall. After a while, they walked toward us.
I became curious what Rey had seen and felt.
"Everything went well, please accept my congratulations. He was able to absorb the knowledge of the tree in amount of three minutes and nineteen seconds. This is a level not reached by every aristocrat. He has great potential." she praised Rey, bowing slightly before my father.
"I may seem rude, but I am very curious, how did you awaken your vis node without undergoing the ceremony?" she immediately continued, turning her gaze to me.
"I awakened it myself when I was six." I replied, as if it was a trifle. Only her face betrayed the opposite. She gasped loudly, covering her mouth with her hand, and her pupils widened as if in fear.
"Oh, forgive my reaction. In the entire history of Krush there were only three people who awakened their aura node themselves, the first king Shiron Krush and his eldest daughter Hitori Krush, as well as the definitive mage Rowan Jorn. Only the king himself and his daughter disappeared in one night, as if they had never been. And afterwards Rowan as well." she told us the story.
But something was wrong. It seemed there was more behind it, but I did not know what exactly. The feeling of deceit did not leave me.
So that was it. The Kingdom of Krush was founded one thousand three hundred and forty four years ago by a man who united all people into one large group in order to survive the attacks of monsters. He awakened his node on his own, locked the strongest monsters at the other end of the continent and built a wall so that they would not penetrate human lands. He built an entire kingdom, and then in one night disappeared along with his daughter. The definitive mage Rowan Jorn was born on the day those two disappeared. Learning this as a child, he wanted to investigate the disappearance and spent twenty four years of his life on it. One night he too disappeared on his birthday.
I didn't know that, what connected them was that they were all self taught. In the books there was no information about this. I thought to myself.
"So it turns out, in a whole thousand years I am the only one? Thank you very much for the information, I ask you not to tell it to others." I asked her, bowing.
"Alright, I understand your position. I promise this information will not leave this church." she agreed, smiling. But the feeling that I was being deceived told me otherwise.
"Once again thank you for your services, Lady Miria. We must leave you to return home before sunset." added father. She nodded and escorted us to the exit.
Walking past the crowd of people to the carriage, I tirelessly questioned Rey,
"So, Rey, what did you see? I am curious."
"I do not know how to describe it. Hmm... such a white space, in which I was floating, and knowledge seemed to be drawn into me from everywhere. It felt as if it was hammered into my head how to use vis and how to use the elements, it was like telepathy." Rey vaguely described.
"And what did you learn?" I continued. I was really curious what I had missed when I awakened myself.
"Well, damn, it is hard to say right away. Words cannot quite convey it. It is exactly something you need to see and feel. They were defining in my head what water should be like, what fire should be like and the other elements. You could say they were showing me how the elements are structured." Rey answered.
The questions did not decrease, but rather increased. But what else could I do? Right, nothing.
"And what should water be like?" I did not let Rey go.
"Well look, you take vis, make it liquid and just make a shape, using vis as a vessel of water." Rey said.
At least he was able to answer something. Nice. But he still does not know how painful it will be for him to cut the vis channels. I was glad to myself.
"Rey, do you feel what aspects you have?" I asked.
"I have not determined the elements yet, hold on." he said, closing his eyes.
We sat in complete silence for almost ten minutes, watching as Rey moved the elements in his node when Rei exclaimed,
"All five!!" He exclaimed, jumping from his seat, glowing with happiness.
"Just like me, good one!" I rejoiced for him, glancing at father.
"Well done, son." My father praised.
"Dad, are there people who use fewer than three elements?" I decided to clarify with father.
He tore himself away from the newspaper, looked at me and answered, "Yes. Although we usually have three elements, people with five elements are not rare. Rare are the people who have two elements or one. The reason is their narrow worldview. Commoners like us usually have two or up to three elements. Aristocrats have at least from three to five. This is because if we did not have so many books, your perception of the world would be very limited. Aristocrats from childhood are spoiled with all the best, because of this they have more knowledge and better training." father explained, sighing.
I wanted to add something, but he continued,
"For example, there is the famous house of Saber. This is the family of a duke, closest to the royal family. They are known for their striking noble appearance, bright blond hair and blue eyes their main trait. This house is famous for its magic swordsmen, who for hundreds of years have always had five aspects. Or the house of the second duke, Reinhart, who are true masters of high magic, each of whom can control at least three higher elements at the same time. It is a miracle that both of you were able to awaken all five elements. Honestly, you have exceeded my expectations. I am proud of you, boys." father finished with his trademark warm smile, ruffling mine and Rey's hair.
Honestly, to hear such words as "I am proud of you", "You will succeed", "I believe in you", "I love you", "You did great" is very strange. I remember when father first said this when I turned four, I cried like a baby. Having lived the shittiest past life, never having heard such words, I was broken in spirit when I heard them. As if a sword had been put to my throat. When he said he was proud of me, I realized that it had all been worth it. It would seem, ordinary words that everyone hears, but in reality it is not quite so. Many strive beyond their limits and never hear such words. On one hand they are just words. Yes. But when you hear them, you are filled with a strange feeling that is hard to describe. As if all your sins were forgiven. As if you had received forgiveness from God himself. Hearing such words, you understand that everything you did was not in vain. That there is a person who cares about you and about what you did all this time. Even hearing such words once, you will not forget it. There were no better words to support a person.
"Thank you, father. If not you, I would never have awakened five elements. You are the best dad in the world." I said in a trembling voice, looking at my feet. I could not help but think about my past father while saying these words. I don't know what he was really like. He was killed on the day of my birth. If he had been alive, would he have been like Mira or not? How would my life have turned out then?..
Father was truly surprised by my words. His face expressed confusion, he didn't know what to say, and just hugged me, smiling. "Thank you." he said quietly, pulling Rey to him as well.
Rey looked distant, slightly even lonely. When father hugged him, his face showed surprise. He smiled slightly and stared out the window.
On returning home mother set a whole festive table to celebrate Rey's awakening. Sitting at the table, the two little beasts appeared, who ran around the whole kitchen until mother sat them down.
"So, Rey, tell us, how did it go. Did you get the element you wanted?" mother asked when everyone sat down to eat.
"Everything went better than ever! I awakened all five elements!" Rey boasted.
Mother was truly surprised by this. She smiled at Rey and said,
"You did great, son. Your training was not in vain. Congratulations, Rey, you deserved it." she praised him, smiling warmly and tenderly, expressing her pride for Rey.
Hearing this, Rey's face changed, shock, confusion and sadness.
"Rey, would you like to enroll in the academy of sword and magic? I think you have a great chance of becoming an outstanding magic swordsman." she continued.
Rey was already on the verge of breaking down. Lonely tears rolled down his cheeks as he replied,
"No, mom, it is fine. I want to become an adventurer." he said in a trembling voice.
"Brother, why are you crying? Does something hurt?" little Shiro asked, sincerely worried about Rey.
Rey turned his face to Shiro as his tears flowed even faster, and answered,
"It is alright, little sister, I am just very happy."
"Well, you are a crybaby!" said little Kuro, pointing at Rey.
"You must not say that!" mother scolded him.
"Yes, I am a crybaby, and you are a toddler." Rey mocked him, to which mother sighed loudly and father only laughed.
Watching this whole scene, I felt so good and warm in my soul. I dreamed that such days would never end, though I knew it was impossible.
"Do not relax too much, training will become much tougher than before." father said, chuckling. At this both Rey and I had a drop of sweat appear on our faces. Usually this ends with fractures or injuries.
So passed the entire remaining evening, which I will keep in my heart for a long time.