Unraveling Fates: The Monumental Misstep
"In the wake of tumultuous events, I remained ensnared by illusions, a captive of my own foolishness. Oh, had the veil of foresight only graced my eyes at the outset! Could it have granted me the solace of an ordinary existence?"
His anguished cries reverberated, a raw outpouring of remorse for the misstep that had rent his very soul.
Emerging from his sleep, a shiver courses through him. 'Could that have been a nightmare?' Ichiro wonders silently.
Ichiro's dwelling was a modest, timeworn hut, its meager interior furnished with nothing beyond a bed crafted from humble materials. With the first light of morning seeping through the cracks, he stirred from his slumber and ventured outside, greeted by the crisp embrace of dawn.
At the edge of the nearby river, he washes his face and visits his mother in the village. "You are up?' she remarks, a tender smile gracing her lips. She gives Ichiro a plate of food that consists of some potatoes with soup. The quality of the food was poor but that was all they could afford.
Once Ichiro had cleared his plate, his mother's eyes danced with a secret. 'I've got a surprise for you,' she teased, her voice carrying a note of excitement. With a gentle flourish, she revealed a necklace – not extravagant, yet far from plain. 'Happy birthday, my dear,' she reminded him, a touch of regret tinging her words. 'I wish it could have been better but I promise to make it up next time.' Ichiro's response was swift and earnest. 'No need to worry, Mom! I really love this necklace. Thank you!' With gratitude in his heart, he set off, ready for some playtime. 'Before you run off, don't forget to say goodbye to your father,' she reminded him.
With a hopeful smile, Ichiro sought out his father. 'Heading out to hunt, Father?' he inquired, his voice carrying a warm curiosity. 'Indeed, my boy. Just preparing to depart,' came the reply, a steady assurance in his father's words. But Ichiro, not to be deterred, offered a gentle nudge. 'Don't you think you're missing something?' A reminder, subtly wrapped in his own birthday. 'I don't think I am, I am going to go now' his father responded, oblivious to the significance of the day. While his father's forgetfulness was evident, Ichiro's spirit remained undisturbed. 'Time for me to enjoy some play with my friends,' he mused, content in his heart.
Ichiro decides to meet up with 2 of his friends, both his age, approximately 5 or 6 years old. This inseparable pair comprised a brother named Takashi and his sister, Yui.
"Ichiro! Happy Birthday!" Takashi exclaimed, a cheerful grin adorning his face. Ichiro expressed his gratitude for Takashi's thoughtfulness. "Happy birthday, Ichiro!" Yui chimed in.
"Since today is your birthday, I've planned something exciting," Takashi announced with an air of adventure. Ichiro's curiosity piqued. "Oh really?! What is it?" he inquired. Takashi's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "We're going to explore the eerie forest near the village," he disclosed, a mixture of daring and excitement in his words.
Ichiro couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "The forest? Is it safe?" he questioned, his interest evident. "Yeah, it's fine!" Takashi reassured, his confidence unshaken. Yui added her reassurance with a soft smile. Don't worry there aren't any monsters there."
Intrigued by the prospect, Ichiro contemplated this thrilling proposal, wondering what mysteries awaited them within the depths of the ominous woodland.
As they enter the forest, they come across various types of harmless cute animals. They come across waterfalls and much more. They all had fun exploring but Ichiro saw a nest on top of a tree, he decided to climb it and saw only one egg there, he was confused as he had never seen an egg that looked like that before, so he decided to take it with him. "That's a really weird-looking egg," Takashi says. "It doesn't matter I want to see it hatch!" Ichiro says. During that time, it already had been almost dusk. "We should go back home before it's too late," says Yui. both Ichiro and Takashi agree and decide to go back. All 3 of them decide to wash up in the river next to the village. "What is all that noise coming from the village?" says Takashi. "We should check it out" Yui added. "You guys go first I will wash my egg now," Ichiro says. Ichiro was just a child and didn't know how things worked. Even though the egg will never hatch due to its mother not being present, Ichiro is too young to understand.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, they came across various harmless, endearing creatures, each a tiny wonder in itself. Serenading waterfalls and the harmonious symphony of nature. Amid the laughter and awe, a peculiar sight caught Ichiro's attention—a nest, perched atop a lofty tree, cradling a lone enigmatic egg. Its unfamiliarity stirred his curiosity, compelling him to climb the tree and get the egg.
"Look at this weird-looking egg," Takashi remarked, his bemusement palpable. Ichiro, however, was resolute in his decision. "I want to see it hatch!" he says. a fervor kindling in his eyes. But as time flowed on, the day neared its close, painting the sky with hues of twilight. Yui, a voice of reason, gently intervened. "It's almost dusk, we should go back home."
Heeding her counsel, they initiated their journey back, retracing the path they had woven through the forest's heart. Their minds still brimming with the wonders they had encountered. Upon reaching the village's outskirts, they made a brief detour to cleanse themselves in the river's tranquil waters, feeling its cool embrace cleanse them of the day's explorations. However, a curious commotion emanated from the village, reaching their ears like a distant melody. "Do you hear that noise?" Takashi questioned, a note of intrigue tinting his voice. Yui's response was swift. "Let's go and check it out."
As they debated, Ichiro's fixation remained on the mysterious egg he now cradled in his hands. "I'll join you in a bit. I want to wash my egg," he conveyed, his innocence rendering him unaware of the egg's nature. As they moved toward the village, Ichiro immersed the egg in the river's embrace, his young heart full of hope.
In truth, the egg's fate was sealed; without its mother's presence, it would never hatch. However, such complexities eluded Ichiro's understanding, for he was just a child.
Ichiro rose with a heavy heart, making his way toward the village. As the village came into view, disbelief clutched at him like a vice. A nightmare unfurled before his eyes – his home, once vibrant with life, now lay in ruin. The scene painted nothing but a canvas of crimson, an inferno of destruction. The lifeless forms of his friends, Yui and Takashi, lay still by his side. A numbness took hold of Ichiro, robbing him of tears even as shock gripped his soul. He cried out for his parents, the desperation in his voice piercing the eerie silence. Amidst the devastation, he stumbled upon his mother, her life slipping away. With her last breath, she implored him to flee.
Confusion and grief intertwined within him, igniting a torrent of tears. Yet, in the midst of his turmoil, danger loomed anew. An arrow found its mark beside him, an ominous precursor to the arrival of two armed figures. Their chilling words hung heavy in the air, introducing them as heartless killers.
Oh? There was another kid left to kill" "Kill him fast so we can go home" one sneered, their voices laced with cruelty. "Dispose of him swiftly, and we can conclude this grim task." Their appearance defied familiarity – one a formidable warrior, the other reminiscent of an orc, both agents of an unknown darkness.
Fear propelled Ichiro's feeble body into motion, his instincts urging him to flee. The pursuit of the soldiers was slow, taunting Ichiro's physical limitations. Their laughter echoed behind him as his exhaustion grew. A desperate plea for aid erupted from his lips, a cry swallowed by the silence of his ravaged surroundings. "Help! Somebody!"
The plea soared to unexpected heights, reaching a dragon soaring miles above. Indifference initially marked the dragon's reaction, yet guilt tugged at its consciousness. What was that noise? A kid crying for help? Well, I can't be bothered, I have places to be." But he just couldn't ignore Ichiro's screams, Feeling guilty he decided to get down and see what was happening. "What? 2 soldiers of the sage?! What are they doing here?! Perplexed by the unfolding events, the dragon's decision became clear – to descend from the skies and embrace the solid ground below The dragon descended, taking control of Ichiro's body.
"You are dead kid!" As the orc soldier swung his greatsword against Ichiro, a loud thud disrupted, creating smoke around the area, As the soldiers closed in, a fierce clash erupted, the dragon's intervention veiled by smoke and fury. One soldier met an abrupt end, and the other's disbelief was palpable. The dragon's strength coursed through Ichiro's limbs, shattering his limitations. The soldier's feeble defense crumbled before a single finger's touch, leaving him stunned and struggling.
The questions spilled forth, laced with terror, echoing the soldier's bewildered thoughts. But Ichiro remained silent, his gaze unyielding. A single punch landed, launching the soldier against a tree with a sickening thud. The soldier's trembling voice resounded in the tense stillness, a cry of disbelief laden with dread.
"There is no way you are the same person… who are you?!" asks the soldier terrified.
"I stand as the sovereign of thunder, the embodiment of storms — Raijin."