"It is about this evil presence that has recently shown up in the universe... Sadashige sensei warned me and Yuichi about him some days ago after you joined this academy. His name is--"
"...Raven Claw." Yuichi cut Mizore's sentence.
A brief silence arose until Mizore continued,"Yes, we both think that there was a connection between him and what happened to Raizo and Asuna that day."
(What...? So, my feeling was true at the time we got teleported! Someone WAS behind that, and it was this Raven Claw...?!)
My heart almost jumped out of my chest. Why would such a brute evil be targeting Raizo? Maybe... Was there a connection to it all...?
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Mizore started once more, "Prophecy has it that Raven Claw is going to come back to living after 5 years to a planet known as Sparks. Legend has it that there would be a full, blood moon a few months after he shows his face to the world...
He would be invincible at that moment. We should be prepared by then. We are the only ones who can stop him before that happens, seeing that all of us aren't normos..."
"Wait, I am still a plain human!" I stated with quick disagreement.
"...No, you aren't." Yuichi replied plainly.
(What?!)
In defense, Mizore explained slowly, "Um, he means in a way that you aren't JUST plain human. Remember the 'power' we keep talking about? Well, it is an enormous power capable of defeating Raven Claw, and if not mastered - also strong enough to explode a whole planet if you wish.
From all the training you've gotten until now, it's all a key to help you control it. You are so close of connecting with that power, all you need is--"
This time, it was Raizo's grunt that cut Mizore's explanation. We all looked at him in worry.
"Are you okay?" I questioned as I touched Raizo's shoulder.
He was sitting right next to me, clutching his right, red eye tightly in pain.
"Raizo?" Mizore called out in a concerned manner.
"I-I'm okay... I just need to go outside and get some fresh... nnh... air."
And with that, Raizo slowly staggered outside the door. Minutes ticked by ever so slowly since he stepped out, and I was becoming uneasy as we waited for his return.
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"I'll go check on him." I spoke as I got up.
Surprisingly, the others nodded despite Nikki insisting on tagging along.
"Why does it always have to be her....." She muttered to herself in an irksome tone, but I shrugged it off and jogged outside.
Under the faintly chilly night, I spotted Raizo slumped on top of a bench nearby, still holding his right eye. When I went to him and peeked at his face more closely, I saw small drops of sweat under his bangs. He looked a lot in pain...
I quickly sat next to him and lightly put my hand on his back, rubbing it.
"Raizo..." I whispered softly, "Are you sure you are alright? Is there anything I can do to help?"
He slightly shook his head and spoke, "Nah, I am okay... N...No need to worry."
His hand started to tremble. I am guessing it hurts even more now. But why? What's wrong with his eye out of nowhere?
"Raizo, can I ask you what happened to your eye? Why is it hurting all of a sudden?"
Raizo briefly looked my way before shifting his gaze down.
"I am pretty much used to it by now..." He seemed to relax a little.
"Happens every 3 months."
My eyes widened at his words.
"What... do you mean?"
Raizo let out a short sigh before continuing, "I guess I can't hide it from you any longer huh..."
He moved his hand away from his eye. He then gazed me in the eyes as he pointed back.
"You must have been wondering why I have mismatched eyes, correct?"
"Mm-hmm..."
"Well--"
I stiffened at his words as he kept on going, "It was a long time ago when I was only 6. Me, Yuichi and Mizore used to play together happily next to some nearby woods.
Now, the woods are no longer there. I am glad, actually. Back then, Natsuno and Nikki were babies. It was pretty hard to take care of them, so we lived in an orphanage next to these woods though we had our parents, but you know why."
I nodded slowly.
(Of course, to keep it all a secret from me...)
He exhaled deeply before continuing. I immediately caught up on the hint that he came to the main part.
"This is the main part. That day when we three were playing hide and seek, Yuichi was the one to seek. I ran in the woods, thinking it was the perfect place to hide.
In that attempt, I went deeper in the woods, without looking back. Time passed by that way and I started getting scared. No one came for me. I didn't even hear a single person calling my name, not even Yuichi or Mizore.
I felt anxious and my heart started beating so fast seconds later. I got up from my hiding spot and started wandering the place, having no clue whatsoever.
I was only 6 that time so it wouldn't be embarrassing to say I started crying my lungs out..."
Raizo chuckled softly at that humiliating memory.
"There I had an unusual encounter. For a second, I thought I saw a shadow behind a few trees, but as quickly as I saw it, it disappeared in the murky shades.
Then I lost it.
I ran as fast as I could, crying, screaming - you name it. Though I fell down several times and grazed my legs, I kept running with that shadowy thing still following me.
Yes, I thought it was my imagination, but that thing was real. Finally, my last fall was the end of my flee. I slipped from the muddy path and went tumbling down a steep slope, breaking tree branches and getting badly scratched."
I gulped. Though it was his story, I was still becoming nervous to know how it ended.
Raizo continued once more, "I wasn't able to move. I just laid there, breathing faintly, and panting heavily. Then he showed up."
"Raven Claw?!" I blurted out, but Raizo simply shook his hand sideways, confused.
"Whaa--?? No, no! It was this man..."
Raizo then went on, although a bit hesitant, "I looked him in the eye after I somehow managed to sit up, sniffling. He probably healed me... Yeah... Yeah, he did.
He then asked me, 'Do you still want to live?' I didn't understand so I asked what he meant.
Sighing, he continued, 'Never mind, the only thing that matters is that you are alive Raizo.' He tousled my hair as he gently smiled at me. 'I will protect you from now onwards...'
With that, he also gave me the power of Restoration, probably incorporating it with the fact that I am a Reaper. I still didn't know how he did that or what made him choose ME out of everyone. 'Live on,' was the last thing I heard before he touched my forehead and put me to sleep.
When I woke up, I was already in my room. Mizore and Yuichi, along with the foster mother, were so glad I was safe. They never took their eyes off of me after that incident. Even that man..."
I was getting curious about what this 'man's' name was so I asked, "What's his name?"
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There was an unsettling silence until Raizo reluctantly answered, "...Jean. From that day on wards, we met at the boarder of the woods every time until I was 13. We became pretty good friends. Everyday, he would read me stories about his adventures. He was... warm and kind to me, making me feel at peace around him. But then, it happened all so suddenly. My eye..."
Raizo's story forwarded on how one day, he found Jean limping his way with dark red blood oozing down his shoulder, his knee, even his mouth. Raizo already knew what to do. He took out his scythe and pointed at Jean's direction.
'W-What are you doing?!' He muttered. Raizo was going to take his soul. It was the only answer - he won't make it is all what was going on in Raizo's mind. Jean desperately tugged on his leg saying 'Spare me! I helped you once! Where is your kindness, your repay?!'
Raizo had never seen Jean so desperate and pitiful like this. He seemed really different from his usual self.
His plea, however, rung a bell within Raizo. He slowly lowered his scythe thinking there is another way after all. The power. Raizo transformed back and knelt down. He told that he still has the power of Restoration, but how should he use it to save Jean?
Jean explained in a whisper, 'You need to sacrifice and exchange one of your body parts in order to grant Restoration, but why give it to me?'
Raizo answered, 'That is the only way I can think of. Plus, you are my only friend. I don't want to see you suffer. I thought ending your life would grant you peace, but...' And with that, he sacrificed his right eye, and exchanged it with Jean's. Raizo lost his power after that, forever. That's how he got this eye. HIS eye.
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After that last sentence, Raizo pointed at his red eye.
"That was a BIG mistake I made. But, this is how much I can tell you. I just... don't want to remember my past anymore."
Raizo's prolonged story finally came to an end.
Once again, silence filled the air. I was the one to break it.
"...Do the others know about this?"
He nodded at my question.
Now I understand it all, but I still want to know what happened to Jean after that incident. I knew it was already hard for Raizo to talk about it this much so I didn't probe for more info.
"Want one?" Raizo asked me as he took out a familiar wrapped candy.
"*giggle* you really love sweets, huh?"
Raizo nodded happily before calmly looking at the moon and I followed suit.
(Come to think of it, on my first day at the academy, Raizo gave me the same candy, didn't he?)
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I was also glad that I got to know one of Raizo's secrets and that was enough to make me smile...
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(Feels more and more like a normal family now.)