I am standing on a hill. The black sky above seemed to swallow my small body.
This is where it all started, rather, it started all over again, where I regained my self-awareness. I unconsciously walked in an unknown direction amidst the flickering fireflies and the flowers of strange and mysterious beauty. Then a feeling that's both foreign and faintly familiar rises in me and then everything flips upside down, literally.
The ground I was standing on and the mysterious sky seemed to roll over and fall. I became extremely panicked by that incident. The pointless screams I let out seemed to be drowned out by the deep, cruel night. I felt like I was in a certain dimension, free-falling in a dark void. Before the darkness surrounded me, I realized how small, weak and hopeless.
Then the light appeared. Light, I've been in the dark too long to notice it. An aura radiated from behind me. I can feel it, the warm feeling of arms around my neck from behind. It was a girl who was hugging me with her small arms. The bright aura emanating from her body made me unable to recognize her, but just the warm feeling of her arms made me forget all my problems. I slowly closed my eyes naturally while leaning my body against the mysterious girl. The last thing left in me was just a feeling of happiness.
----------------------------------------------
A stream of cold water is washing me away. That was the first thing I realized when I woke up. My body was swept away by a very strong current while my body ached and froze from the cold water. Then I felt something grab my collar and tug.
- "Skyle, wake up!" - A female voice called out
I immediately opened my eyes and noticed Miina trying to pull me onto the nearby rocky shore. I turned around, trying to use my hand to cling to the rock next to me as a fulcrum to pull my body out of the water. After struggling for a while, I climbed up to where Miina was standing.
- "It looks so heavy" - Miina said with narrowed eyes
I immediately remembered why I was in this murky, damp place. I looked at Miina, confirming that her condition was fine, but still...
- "Where's Amano? Where is he!?" - I excitedly grabbed Miina's shoulder and asked Miina
- "He's over there" - Miina calmly answered me
Amano lay on the nearby rock with a small pillowcase for his head. He raised his hand to greet me as if to say that he was fine. I still remember the last moment before falling down this "Divide End". A bullet fired by the knights hit Amano's shoulder.
I rushed to him when something under my feet tripped me and fell to the ground.
- "Be careful, it's dark in here" - Miina reminded me.
"Amano, is your wound okay?" - I asked eagerly.
- "It's okay Skyle, just a bullet went through my shoulder. Thanks to Miina I'm fine, just need to rest for a while" - Amano reassured me
Amano's wound was carefully bandaged, it didn't seem as serious as I thought. Only special thing is that his traid eyepatch is gone. Amano's Armento is glowing a soft green. I guess Amano is up to something with his Armento.
- "What are you doing?" - I ask
As if not distracted or affected by Armento radiating power in his left eye, Amano replied to me:
- "This is 'Scout', my navigation skill allows you to know the way around this place but it will take a while"
I just found out that Amano's Armento can be used in this way, before I just thought it was used to see through weaknesses as well as analyze movements during practice. Indeed, I still do not know many things about Amano.
I looked around this place, under the "Final Dividing Rift" it was really different from the world above. In the middle of the area we were in was a rushing stream of water and around were countless branching paths, the ceiling was covered with stalactites. It can be said that this place is no different from a cave system consisting of complex tunnels. The only light in this place probably came from the faintly emitted mushroom-shaped rock plants. Unable to find where we fell, I guess we were carried away quite far by the current.
"How long has it been since I fell here?" - I asked Miina
"About half a day"
This place was completely isolated from the world above so it would certainly be difficult to determine the time. I quickly checked my backpack, it was soaked, the contents were soaked in water. I pulled the pile of clothes out to wring them out and spread them out to dry. Clothes must be hard to dry in this place without any sunlight. Seeing that, Miina handed me a hand-held square lamp pre-loaded with heat element. Miina should have guessed that I was wondering why this thing didn't get wet.
- "You should also try the waterproof slime liner" - She said
I secretly admired her carefulness and thoughtful personality and brought the lamp closer to dry the clothes.
The light emitted from the lamp unconsciously made me cover my eyes with my hand reflexively. The sight of a bright light shining brightly in the middle of the night reminded me of a strange dream. I froze for a moment, the warmth from that dream still lingering on my body. Was that girl who appeared in that dream very important to me? Does she have anything to do with what I'm looking for? But what makes me want to know now is... . I walked over to Amano, sat next to him, and asked what weighed down my heart in that moment:
"Why did you do that then?"
Amano gave me a wry smile as if he had guessed I would have this question. In the moment when I was about to be taken away by the knights, Amano and Miina did not hesitate to act to save me. He chose to shoot to save me at that time, who lost all my will, despite the fact that he would become a criminal.
- "We had to suffer the pain of losing our best friend" - Amano said painfully - "I hate myself for not being able to do anything at that time."
- "It's not my fault Amano, you were too weak back then..." - Miina interjected
Amano shook his head in denial of what Miina said, he lowered his face. Miina looked at him, pushed back her long black hair, and sat down next to us. Looks like Amano and Miina are reminiscing about the past and I guess it's not something fun. I didn't want to ask any more questions for fear of making them recall sad memories when:
- "When I first met you, I was surprised. Your eyes are the same ruby color as Alne's. I love her eyes even more, so I can't leave you. But above all, we are not the same. best friend?" - Amano pours his heart out
Miina showed a visibly sad expression upon hearing Amano's words. I felt really touched when I heard those words. In a world where I don't know who to trust, don't carry a single piece of memory, Amano is the first person who gives me a feeling of closeness and reliability. I am very grateful to fate for allowing me to meet this friend, a gentle, honest person, not another evil villain.
"Thanks to you two, thanks to you, I have a direction" - I told him
Thanks to the sincerity and devotion of these friends, I have become braver. I will no longer run from my fate.
Amano smiled and extended his hand towards me. He and I exchanged a handshake like the day we first met that night. Our friendship is like a handshake.
Suddenly Miina placed her hand on our handshake causing us to look at her in surprise. Miina sulkily said:
- "Don't let me out"
I smiled and looked at the beautiful girl next to me.
- "We are also very grateful to you, Miina"
"Being grateful isn't enough," Miina replied jokingly and flashed a dangerous smile. We cried and laughed at her. The friendship between the three of us grew stronger in that moment.
The three of us sat around the lamp, preparing for the journey ahead. My weapon is the old sword which is fine, Miina's spear was fortunately caught in the rock cavity so it was not carried away by the current, Amano's gun got wet with water and it can't be used anymore but the knife is still there. We just have to wait for Amano to finish recording the map with "Scout".
- "In the meantime, do you want to hear me tell about Alne and my past?" - Amano asked me
I gulped and nodded immediately. What this person has gone through to be able to act like that for friends is always something I wonder. I don't think Amano would be comfortable sharing this with me, but I'm very happy with the offer, he must have trusted me and considered me a close friend. I listened attentively to him with trepidation. Miina was also sitting nearby listening with a nostalgic expression. And so Amano began...
--------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
[Shogen Village 7 years ago]
Hold tight
Strong swing
Loosen up and then hold on tight
At sunset, in a small forest opposite the barley field of Shogen village, there was a young boy with blue hair of the color of the sky. 11-year-old Amano was passionately swinging the knife in his hand, repeating the same movement, ignoring the sweat dripping down his back and hair rolling down his young face. In the whole small forest, aside from the chirping birdsong, only the sound of the boy practicing his knife fighting skills, carrying his dreams and aspirations.
Shogen is not a very wealthy village, the people here are still struggling to earn their daily meals. Teenagers or even children here have to work for a living. The people of this place are forever caught up in the vortex of rice and money, it can be said that childhood in Shogen village is a luxury. Amano is no exception, this boy also has to do farming to support the family. However....
"Did you run away from work to practice knives again?"
At some point, a figure approached Amano. A pretty girl with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a blue and white dress with flower patterns. The lines on that little girl's face gave off a deadly cuteness. The voice was like a bell ringing. Overall, she is no different from a little princess stepping out of the pages of romantic fairy tales. This is Alne, the only daughter of the businessman and owner of the restaurant "The Cat on the Lawn" that Amano still frequents.
The teenager jumped when he heard the voice, and recognizing its owner further confused Amano. Amano's heart in his chest seemed to skip a beat. He turned to that "little princess":
- "Hi...hello, Alne" - stammered Amano
The little girl named Alne swayed her hair, wide ruby eyes looking at Amano. As if captivated by the terrifying charm of those beautiful eyes, the teenager stared at it endlessly. The atmosphere between the two of them was slowly becoming strange. Alne took a step back and said:
- "You scared me Amano" - She said in a half-joking voice
Amano, realizing he was acting strange, quickly looked away.
- "I'm sorry!" - You shouted
Alne didn't seem to mind, she waved to Amano to follow and turned on her heel to run away. The teenager smiled and chased after the little girl. The two laughed and joked as if they were playing an endless game of chase. They passed through wide spreading trees, past strange shaped rocks that had been honed over thousands of years, past small rivers and canals. Only in these brief moments can they live like children and enjoy the feeling of being children.
Amano and the "little princess" stopped in front of a huge tree, panting from exhaustion. Amano was about to lie down on the grass to rest when
- "Beware of the knife!" - Alne raised her voice
- "Oh! I forgot! - Amano removed the knife from his waist and threw it aside.
Leaning down while wearing a knife is really dangerous. Amano's carelessness always caused Alne to follow prompts.
Amano dropped onto the green grass that was still a bit wet from last night's early summer rain. Alne knelt beside her, she and Amano enjoyed the cool breeze blowing from the north to forget about the tiring daily life. Together they gazed up at the distant sky on the horizon where there existed a better world than the never-ending hereditary affairs, a place where man's destiny had forever chained.
The young Amano momentarily enjoyed the majestic scenery as if he had gained an invisible courage, he tightly held the hand of the little girl he still secretly loved.
- "One day, I will become an excellent scout soldier. I will protect you with my blade, we will leave here and seek a brighter life on the horizon!"
As soon as he realized that he had said all the feelings he had kept hidden from the bottom of his heart, Amano flusteredly released Alne's hand, wishing now that a huge hole appeared for him to hide in. The young boy's immature feelings in the midst of a charming scene made everything around become awkward and awkward for both of them. Time seemed to be frozen in that moment.
- "You promised" - Alne's voice once again sounded like silver rattles
Alne showed a happy smile as he looked at Amano. Faced with the unexpected situation, the shy teenager was about to turn his face away when Alne approached. The girl was as beautiful as a flower, holding out her pinky finger. Touched by the sunset and the smile of his friend who grew up with him, Amano also extended his hand. The two exchange a token of beautiful childlike promise.
- "I promise, forever!" Amano laughed and said as if crying.
A childish promise was born on that meadow, under that sunset, and lingered forever.
"It's too late, where have you two been?"
Amano, Alne and another mysterious boy are in a room. This is a treehouse that was accidentally discovered by Amano's group while climbing on ancient branches. From there, the secret base of the Amanos was born.
"It's just that you're early, Flex"
This boy named Flex is also a member of Amano's group, however later, at the time of the main story, Amano no longer remembers any details about this person other than his name and existence, including his body. Flex's figure in flashbacks also becomes black from head to toe. Flex seems to be erased from everyone's memories by some mysterious force.
Alne looked around as if searching for something, then her eyes turned sad. She looked at Flex and asked:
- "Miina didn't come today?"
Miina is a member of Amano's group, also the most talented and resourceful person in the group, everyone loves and respects this girl. Miina's future is also wide open as a child prodigy, brightest, smartest ever in the village. But after that incident, Miina changed.
"He's probably still grieving about last week's incident," Amano said.
A week ago, Miina's father, after gaining the mystical power of Armento, lost his mind and went insane in the presence of the villagers. He went crazy and disappeared behind the black forest, leaving behind meaningless babbles.
A heavy air suddenly enveloped the tree house. As if wanting to remove it, Flex spoke up:
"We'll visit him when we come back later!"
Hearing that, Amano and Alne nodded. All 3 love Miina and hope she can get over this loss. The atmosphere is happy again, the tree house is as alive as ever.
The group's secret base on the tree house has long been a place to live and do things the group loves. As planned, today we will do something very special.
- "You have to remember to close it firmly" - Alne reminded the two friends
Time box, a box that children often put in their thoughts, sometimes happy and sad memories. The boxes will sleep deep in the ground so that one day, when the other children grow up, they can look back at a precious childhood sky.
Amano saw Alne quietly putting a large piece of folded paper into her box, and was curious:
- "Are you sending a letter to your future self?"
Alne hurriedly hid the letter as if she didn't want Amano to see it. Flex also pulled Amano away from Alne and said:
- "That's impolite" - Flex said to Amano
Even though Flex in Amano's memory was just a black shadow, in that moment, he smiled. Amano looked at Flex's large box and was similarly curious
- "Did you make the box that big?"
Flex looked at Amano, was silent for a moment, then answered
- "You, me, and all of us will need what's in it later. When will we all be able to reach our dreams?"
Amano looked at Flex with wide eyes, he put his hand on his chest as if to signal "I get it". Flex widened in satisfaction and held out his hand to Amano's astonishment.
"What are you thinking of doing?" - Amano wondered
- "Shake my hand! Later when you meet a trusted comrade or you want to befriend someone, this will be a sign of friendliness" - Flex explained
Amano slowly reached out and grasped Flex's hand, while memorizing what he said.
"Hey, hurry up, it's getting dark!" - Alne told two friends
Taking advantage of when the light of the sun was still shining on the tree house, the three quickly closed their box and locked it with a padlock brought from the house.
- "Remember to keep the key carefully" - Flex reminded
The three of them skillfully climbed down from the big tree to the ground. They moved to the area where the holes were dug a week ago. Amano, Flex, and Alne bury their boxes in the pits one by one. Then they realized they still had an unused pit from Miina. The three looked at each other without saying anything and left the place without knowing that they were being targeted.
================================================== ================
- "Ah! 'Scout' is done, I'll go and redraw the map. I'll tell the rest some other time," said Amano, standing up and going to get the paper and pen that were drying in the distance.
I feel really disappointed that I haven't heard the rest of the story. Then, realizing that another person might know something, I turned to Miina and said:
"Do you know the ending of the story?"
Miina looked at me, sympathizing with that curiosity, she just got serious and replied:
- "Armento will always come with a terrible price to pay to the evil gods. His friends and family, perhaps still somewhere in that eye"
I was dumbfounded when I heard that answer.
- "Could it be that what Amano has to trade for is..." - I asked nervously
"That day I still saw the scene clearly..."
I stayed silent, not knowing what to say next after hearing that terrible truth. Amano's Armento stole his friends and family. But... what forced him to receive that power? I felt dizzy from thinking too much about what happened after that. But then I immediately remembered a strange detail in Amano's story.
- "Hey Miina, do you know what Flex looks like?"
Hearing that name, Miina really reacted strongly. She put a hand to her lips and replied:
- "What I remember about him is less than what Amano knows. Flex seems to have disappeared into another dimension. Apart from Amano and me, no one even remembers his existence"
In fact, the questions in my head are increasing day by day while the answers are not. I shook my head vigorously to let go of the remaining stuck in my head to stand up and continue the journey ahead. Amano showed us the map he just drew. After all the paths were clearly marked by him in detail, the three of us were once again on our way. Although we do not have the same goal, but because we all share the same path, all 3 will try to find the answer to their fate. "Don't worry Alne, I will find the evil god to make him return you. We will reach the horizon together as promised"