Black.
It was all that Tanjo could see, even after his bright-blue eyes were brought back to life.
It was as if he was locked in a pitch-black room, not a single trace of light gleaming inside. However, despite the total darkness, Tanjo could still vividly see himself.
The silence that encompassed everywhere was nearly enough to drive the jet-black-haired boy mad. It was too dark, too silent, and too ominous.
"Where the hell am I!?" Tanjo yelled, hollering out into the abyss of black.
Tanjo stood still for numerous moments. It didn't help that no matter where he steered his eyes, the darkness of his surroundings looked right back at him. He could begin to hear his ears starting to ring from the silence, only stressing him further.
Suddenly, after continuously waiting for what seemed like forever, a bright blue light appeared, beaming brightly in the dark. The light was in the shape of an orb, resembling a Genso-Kyu. So round and ostensibly filled with pure energy.
"Hello?"
Tanjo called out to the orb floating before him, walking forward to gaze at the only source of light around him more clearly. However, once Tanjo took his first step forward, the black ground illuminated brightly, creating multiple rings of light below him. The colors varied from blue, red, yellow, and purple.
In fear, Tanjo lunged back from the light, getting a better view of the events occurring around him.
The blue sphere began to tremble, and minuscule cracks began to appear. The blue orb then fractured into a million fragments, disclosing its innards like shattered glass.
"What the hell is this light!?"
Shortly after the orb had shattered, several lights surged outward, surrounding Tanjo in an instant.
"What is this!?" The boy cried helplessly, clenching his fists as he clamped his eyes shut.
"This is your mind, Tanjo." A feminine voice spoke out to the teenager softly; however, she was nowhere in sight.
Tanjo's eyes cracked open, still overwhelmed by the glares of flashing lights.
Ms. Tassei?
Suddenly, the ceaseless attacks from the lights came to a halt, each trail of light flying away. Each line of light lined up horizontally, allowing each color to be on display for Tanjo
Blue.
Red.
Yellow.
Purple.
The color of every Aura Sense, Tanjo quickly had quickly deduced, opening his eyes.
"These senses are what define humanity's strengths today. Giving us a portion of the power that the gods could wield so mightily." The same feminine voice rang through Tanjo's ears, only enabling the teen to distinguish the voice even more.
"Ms. Tassei!" Tanjo yelled, spinning in every direction to spot a particular lady.
Through the boy's yelling, the voice continued.
"I knew that you had something special, ever since I laid eyes on you. But, now it's clear what it is." Ms. Tassei's voice was all that the poor boy could hear.
Tanjo locked his eyes on the four orbs that represented every Aura Sense, dragging himself into his own thoughts.
'This is... my mind?' He then recalled Ms. Tassei's previous words, daring to take a step forward. This time, no colors flashed from beneath, prompting Tanjo to walk even further.
Tanjo continued to get closer to the four floating spheres, each step he took gradually grew faster. A staunch look invaded Tanjo's visage as he speed-walked toward the lights.
'If this really is my mind, then I should be able to do this!'
Once Tanjo was within a close enough distance, he launched his hand out to grab the blue orb. Instead of grabbing onto the sphere as he had originally planned—"Wah!"—a hand emerged from the blue light, clasping Tanjo's wrist in a vice-like grip.
"All I needed you to do was open up to me."
The face of Ms. Tassei came into view, a smile adorning her features gracefully as she kept her hold on Tanjo's wrist.
Tanjo yanked his arm back, successfully freeing himself from Ms. Tassei's clutches. "Where are we!?" The boy then yelled.
"Your mind." Ms. Tassei replied readily, but only to pause and put an index finger up to her chin. "Well, what your mindscape would look like, at least."
"Hah?" Tanjo responded dumbly, gazing at the lady before him dubiously.
Ms. Tassei's playful smile was retained as she breathed in to speak. "What you have revealed to me is something quite sensitive to today's world, Tanjo. It's a miracle that you haven't managed to reveal it to everyone in the nation already."
"What are you talking about?" Tanjo asked, taking a step back. He could only hope that he didn't trip on something in this black abyss.
"Your so-called 'condition,' the Aura Amalgamation." Ms. Tassei clarified, watching as Tanjo's morphed into deeper confusion.
Tanjo fortified his emotions, standing defiantly as he said, "My old man wouldn't lie to me, Ms. Tassei. Even if it's uncommon, it must be some type of condition that I was born with. Why else would my magic screw up all the time!?"
Ms. Tassei then stuck her right hand outward, her white sleeve hanging loosely from her arm. Then, with a flick of her hand, the darkness surrounding them transitioned into what looked like a battlefield. Several bodies covered in blood were scattered across the ground.
Tanjo almost started trembling at the sight of what appeared to be a massacre. There had to be hundreds of warriors, yet each and every one of them was dead.
"The Keisan War." Ms. Tassei claimed with dread, looking out to the battlefield with Tanjo.
Tanjo gasped. "I've learned about this. My old man taught me all about it"
Ms. Tassei nodded in acknowledgment. "It's, quite possibly, the most well-known part of history, especially between all three of the nations."
"Why? Why are you showing me this?" Tanjo demanded, turning to face Ms. Tassei.
The woman's expression changed immediately, a more serious look taking place.
"Because," Ms. Tassei began, extending her right arm in a certain direction. "Of him."
Following where Ms. Tassei had pointed, Tanjo spotted what the lady had wanted him to see instantly…
…Tanjo's eyes widened.
Standing amongst the battlefield of fallen warriors, a single man stood tall. In his hand, he wielded a long staff of green and gold. His armor looked impenetrable. It was silver, remotely similar to Buraun's armor. However, its shoulder plates were golden, glinting in the sun's rays.
Although the man had acquired a magnificent weapon, along with great armor, it wasn't what had piqued Tanjo's interest.
It was the man's crimson-red hair that caught Tanjo's eyes. It reached all the way down to the back of his neck, elegantly braided in a technique that seemed to be unique to this unknown warrior.
It was all the more impressive to see how his armor wasn't scratched in the slightest, only coated in blood as he used a dead warrior's body as a step-stool.
"Reiwa Takuetsu. Titled the Crimson Messiah by his people." Ms. Tassei broke the silence, reeling Tanjo back into reality.
Tanjo craned his head to face Ms. Tassei. "This doesn't answer my question."
Ms. Tassei faced Tanjo with a monotonous visage as she then spoke, "That man, the one who had managed to purge every god that graced our lands, also obtains your 'condition.' Otherwise known as the Aura Amalgamation."
Tanjo froze, his body locking in place as the words sank deep within his core. He just had to share a condition with a genocidal dictator! But, doesn't this also mean that Tanjo still has the chance to become strong? Strong enough to make everyone smile? Or, maybe strong enough to save Mizuki?
"Your old man, as you call him, didn't lie about you having the Aura Amalgamation. But it supposedly being a condition, especially one seen as something that stunts your magic, is, perhaps, the biggest lie this nation has to bear." Ms. Tassei declared, her eyes locking with Tanjo's.
"Then—then, what does it mean!?" Tanjo all but shouted.
Ms. Tassei found her smile once again, confusing the boy tremendously.
"You, Tanjo, not only wield the power of every Aura Sense—but were specifically granted this power from the gods above!"
XXX
Haah!? WE finally learn what an Aura Amalgamation is! When I first started this novel, I nearly made it so that it really was a birth defect. But, then the idea hit. What will stem from it? Stay tuned to find out!
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_