He sat outside watching the leaves sway as the wind picked up. The rain poured from the sky. The darkness comforting and the silence broken ever so often by the sound of thunder.
His mind wandered off. He didn't even know how to explain the feeling of his loss. He looked at the steps of his home. Seeing the trail of blood moving towards the house and disappearing behind the door. Behind the door the trail of blood continued down the entrance of the home and up the stairs. It proceeded to the room of his beloved parents who laid in their bed peacefully. The bed was drenched with blood... Their own blood.
He wasn't there to protect them. To die with them. His parents brutally murdered and his brother missing nowhere to be found.
He sat on the porch of the house staring out to the forest. His black rogue outfit dripping with blood and rain water. His vibrant purple eyes now dim with pain. His black hair reaching his shoulders was soaking wet. He sat there with his katana unable to move from shock.
The trees swayed viciously with the wind picking up more speed. The storm approached and the thunder rumbled loudly. Lightning flashed through the sky. In the distance a figure approached him. The figure grew closer. It wore a red Hakama over his white kimono. By his waist was a katana with a golden dragon wrapped around the handle. The man moved closer he had long white hair and piercing blue eyes.
"I see you have a Katana. A fellow friend you are then." The man spoke his voice deep and strong with confidence.
He stared at the boy with the black rogue outfit seeing pain in his eyes. He noticed the blood trail. Recognizing the work of the Night stalkers way to well. The man frowned and immediately went back to his serious face not trying to show any signs of weakness.
"I am sorry for your loss. This happens more often than expected around this area."
The samurai looked back at the boy seeing the pain he was in and not being able to do anything about it.
"What do you want from me?" The boy spoke.
The samurai looked at the katana and back at the boy.
"Let me train you. Let me teach you how to channel your pain and anger. I see power inside of you. You are capable of using elements that others find hard to manage without dying." The samurai spoke with a ton of power that made it seem realistic.
The boy looked up at the samurai.
"Listen I like your offer but no thanks. I am a pity who allowed his parents to be murdered and his brother to go missing. The only elements I can control is fire, water, and Earth. These elements won't even scratch the people who did this to my family. You think I am capable of some sort of myth. To control more elements than even the elders. I think you are out of your mind. Just leave me alone and let me die here with the little dignity I have left." The boy said with an emotionless stare.
The samurai stared at the boy with disappointment.
"Alright my dear friend. If you choose to die here with what you call dignity that shall be it but if you decide to take my offer to allow me to train you. Then you will be able to locate me a few miles west from here near the Shinniak mountains." The samurai walked away with a final nod.
The boy sat there looking at the forest as he previously did. The storm grew stronger and the wind made the trees sway violently. The sound of thunder grew louder and closer.
~~~~
A few days passed and the storm subsided. A few trees were knocked down during the violent storm but the boy remained sitting on the steps. His stomach growled from hunger and each blink felt like glass stabbing his eyes. His body was physically exhausted and so was his mind. He spent days sitting on the steps depriving himself from food, water, and rest. His skin became pale since he was ill. He continued to sit there and stare out to the forest. He eventually felt so weak that it was nearly impossible to sit straight. His eyes burned with each blink but he proceeded to stare at the forest seeing a bright white light forming. He saw two figures approaching him. The silhouettes grew closer. The bright light was hard to look at with the boy covering his eyes a bit. The figures were closing in with the boy to weak to even move.
The boy looked up to see his parents. They smiled at him comfortingly.
"Alex my boy. What are you doing here putting yourself through this punishment?" Alex's mother asked with her soft feminine voice.
Alex looked at his mother, her long black hair and beautiful smile. He felt a tear roll down his face.
"I wasn't here to protect you or Hunter. Now you are dead and Hunter is missing."
"Listen you are not responsible for our deaths but you are responsible for living your life and making us proud." Alex's dad said with a comforting smile.
Alex couldn't stop himself from crying, tears flowed down his face. He looked at his father seeing how much he resembled that man but yet was so weak compared to him.
"I can't do it father."
"You can and you will. You will find the strength to make it to that samurai. He will train you and you will become a man that will make his family proud." His father said embracing him.
Alex hugged back not letting go. A flash of light bursted out making Alex cover his eyes. When he opened his eyes his parents were gone. He sat there for a few minutes letting tears flow down his face. He finally began to stand up with the support of his katana. He felt as if he would collapse with just his first step but regardless looked down the road seeing the Shinniak mountains from afar.
Alex began walking towards the mountains. Every step being more difficult than the other. His body was completely exhausted but regardless of that he was determined to make it to his destination. He walked for hours with the support of his katana. He was in so much pain feeling as if time was slowing down on him. He looked up to see the Shinniak mountains not so far from him. He saw a camp in the distance. As he approached he noticed boys and girls of all ages training.
He saw some girls training in a lake lifting up water with their elemental powers. The water orbs rose up from the lake and defied gravity. He also saw some guys using their fire or rock elements on the camp. Alex was amazed by all of the people there. He proceeded walking to the entrance. He smiled finally making it to his destination. Alex stepped forward and passed out from exhaustion. A girl with black hair and blue tips dropped her water orb and ran towards Alex as soon as she noticed his body on the floor.
"Master Ryuken there is a boy with black hair at our entrance. He passed out and he seems exhausted sir." The girl stated with a worried look on her face.
The samurai who spoke to Alex approached him. He smiled with pride seeing how Alex managed to make it this far in his condition. He picked Alex from the floor.
"Emily pick up his katana and help me take care of the boy." Master Ryuken said.
Emily nodded and picked up the katana. She followed Master Ryuken into one of the empty cabins of the camp. Master placed Alex in the bed to allow him to rest.
"Emily you will remain here and care for him until he is back on his feet. When he awakes let me know immediately." Master Ryuken ordered.
"But Master I have to train for the battle royale that starts next week." Emily complained.
"That is an order. I will not ask again." Master Ryuken said sternly.
Emily grunted and nodded in agreement.
~~~~~~
Emily watched over Alex for the next few days making sure he was okay. She washed his clothes and sharpened his katana.
Alex finally woke up opening his eyes and scanning the room. He sat up in surprise seeing his clothes on a chair next to the bed. He got dressed quickly and looked around the room seeing his katana near the restroom door. He picked it up hearing a door behind him close. Alex turned around and noticed a girl with black hair approaching he unsheathed his katana and grabbed Emily by the neck and pressed her against the wall.
"Who are you and where the hell am I. Speak quickly or I will slice you in half." Alex said viciously baring his teeth.
"M-m-my name is Emily Moon and you are in the Sh-Shinniak camp. Master Ryuken told me to care for you here." Emily stuttered having fear written all over her face.
Alex released his grip from her neck and sheathed his katana back. He looked at Emily her greyish blue eyes and black hair with the ends being a dark blue. She wore a black skirt with black stockings. She also wore a white shirt with a black cardigan. Her pale skin slightly glistening from the moonlight coming from the window.
"I am very sorry. I have been on edge since arriving home to the corpses of my parents." Alex said with a frown.
Emily frowned but was unable to say anything when Master Ryuken entered the room.
"I see you two have made your acquaintances. Welcome to my camp my dear friend, my name is Master Ryuken and I train these brave warriors for the future and to protect Earth from the evils that lurk in the shadows. Now you will come with me to the mountains since I did offer you training and we will begin immediately but I have to warn you this training is like no other. This will take patience, intelligence and pure skill. I will train with you for a year in the mountains, something I have never done with anyone else. Are you prepared for that task Mr uhhh?"
"Ryder. Alex Ryder, and yes I am prepared to train with you. I want to make my parents proud and become a man." Alex said bowing down to Master Ryuken.
"Please get up my friend. We will travel to Shinniak mountains and commence our year long training." Master Ryuken said leaving the cabin.
Alex followed looking up at the full moon in the sky. He looked at Emily one last time before proceeding towards his next destination where the journey to his manhood and a new beginning awaits.