Akira, still perched within the tree alongside Renjiro, absorbed the weight of Aya's revelations. The forest felt still, as if even the winds were holding their breath, eager to listen to the tale that was about to unfold. "So, what is the relationship between the elements, beasts, and how did all this madness start?" Akira asked, his curiosity driving him to seek answers amidst the chaos. Aya hesitated for a moment, her expression pensive. "That is a delicate question," she replied cautiously. "Those who have spoken of it before either met a tragic fate or succumbed to the allure of darkness. Are you certain you wish to hear the truth?" Annoyed by being called young and determined to uncover the mysteries surrounding him, Akira insisted, "Just tell me what's going on already. I can handle it." With a nod, Aya began to recount the ancient tale. She spoke of the time when there were only seven realms: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Spirit, Beast, and the elusive Novus realm. The Novus realm was believed to house unintelligent beasts from the Beast realm, a place of little consequence to the other realms. "But everything changed with the arrival of a boy named Hano Hoshizaki," Aya continued. "Hano was unique; he possessed the aura of Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Spirit, and Beast. The realm leaders coveted his powers for themselves, but as he grew, Hano witnessed the passing of everyone he cared for, unable to die himself." Aya's voice held a tinge of sorrow as she conveyed Hano's tragic fate. "In time, Hano contacted the realm leaders, expressing his desire for eternal slumber, away from a world that caused him so much pain." "And so he went into eternal slumber," Akira remarked, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation. "But not everyone was content with that," Aya continued. "Some realm leaders sought Hano for their own dark purposes. They convened to decide who would awaken him, as only a member of his family or a realm leader could rouse him from his slumber." Aya revealed that the Beast realm leader, Otash Prima, harbored a sinister plan to rule over all realms, using Hano as a pawn. Hano awakened when he sensed Otash's radical intentions, and a devastating war ensued between the Beast realm and the others. "Hano defeated Otash and saved the other realms from destruction," Aya explained, "but instead of returning to eternal slumber, he decided to stay in the Spirit realm, keeping it as his temporary abode." Akira listened intently, realizing that his own journey was intricately tied to the events of the past. Aya went on to recount how the Novus realm leader, Crib, later betrayed Hano, leading to another confrontation and Hano's eventual demise. "Crib absorbed Hano's glyph core and gained all of his abilities," Aya revealed, "making him a nearly unstoppable force. However, Yukihiro, my brother and the one you know as the Architect, harnessed a hidden power and eventually defeated Crib, but he was branded a traitor and banished from the realms." Aya spoke of how her father, Esil, manipulated time to thrust the realms into the future, escaping the chaos but leaving behind the artifacts that Akira now sought. Akira absorbed the weight of the revelation, realizing the immense responsibility he now bore. "I need to prepare," he stated with newfound determination. "A war is coming, and I cannot be caught unprepared." Aya nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and hope. "Indeed, you must ready yourself for what lies ahead. The fate of the realms rests in your hands." As Akira's mind raced with thoughts and questions, he knew that this was just the beginning of his journey. The secrets unveiled within the depths of the forest marked a turning point, propelling him towards an uncertain future filled with challenges and revelations