To think I pass out frequently, since when? Is my blood count low?
Kazu, out.
◇
You know that feeling when your father tells you how you came to be? He says it was an accident and he didn't have time to pull out or something. Then you start to wonder about your whole destiny; whether you were meant to be wiped away on the floor or end up in your mother's belly. I never knew that feeling before. But now, I sure do.
This is how Anna's story begins…
A long time ago, my father's father and his father before him discovered something that changed the way they lived. (Wait. Wait, did I live that long? Okay. Okay, I'll continue; I won't interrupt anymore, cheapskate.)
He stumbled upon a rock. But it was no ordinary rock. It glowed with the Light of Beginning, the mysterious force that gave rise to life in this world. Some thought that the Light of Beginning was merely a catalyst, a spark that ignited the flame of life. But I knew better. It was the very essence of life itself, the fuel that sustained the flame.
The days of crawling in dread were over. The time to crawl in peace had come.
But not everyone shared this vision. They claimed that my ancestors had not found the rock by chance, but by fate. They said that the Light of Beginning called to everyone, because that was how it operated. It had to be exhausted of its power until nothing was left. And because it called to everyone, it would eventually be snatched by enemies.
But they did not realize that the enemies were closer than they thought.
War broke out among our people, with one side wanting to harness the Light of Beginning for the prosperity of the whole clan, and the other side wishing for a chosen warrior to inherit its creative power.
The war decimated our population. Neither side could claim victory. And then, our worst nightmare came true as the conflict escalated.
It arrived. The Giant.
Giants come in various forms, and the one that arrived possessed terrible power simply by thumping its feet. It was the type that employed brute force.
They said it was a massacre they would never forget, since the Giant found it much easier to annihilate them because so many people gathered in one area.
But the Giant's objective was not them. Everyone was running, but they did not notice that the Light of Beginning had already landed in the Giant's mouth.
But someone leaped using forbidden magic, where one could employ immense strength by consuming their brethren's core.
She leaped and touched the Light of Beginning, aiming to destroy it before the Giant swallowed it.
But she noticed something within the Light of Beginning. Inside was a Being.
Then they all heard "Achooo!" from within it.
Everyone, including the Giant, fell as the air shook.
But she held on to it as she fell, and this was the first time the rite of protection was invoked.
A lovely melody filled the air, then the ground trembled, and something enveloped everything, pushing the Giant back to the edge of the mountain range. It slammed against the newly formed shield as it tried to enter. It eventually left, never to return.
The first person to invoke the rite of protection became known as the first priestess.
◇
Holy shit! All of that happened and I was completely unaware of it? That's crazy. My face turned stiff as I realized they knew I was inside. I had been played. And, wait, was I almost crushed or eaten? And you're telling me my sneeze saved me. What the heck is that?
Actually, the story goes on. The clan reunites, forming a small community led by the first priestess. They agree to use the Light of Beginning for protection and assimilation.
Eventually, the priestess informs the people that a Being resides within, that it is still dormant, and that the Being helped them.
The assimilation strategy is straightforward. They perform a ritual on a regular basis to transfer the Light of Beginning into the core of a warrior. I'm not sure what a warrior's core is, but it's probably an organ in the body.
Eventually, the Being within will awaken and become their deity.
So I can get out? I like this plan.
But their world is not as simple as it seems, bwahaha… Yeah, I need to work on my villain laugh.
◇
I'm not sure what's special today, but the ritual is more energetic than usual. It goes on and on without any sign of stopping.
So Anna won't be able to see me. I kind of miss her fussing over things.
They are still there whenever I wake up. I don't mind the continuous singing at all, keep it up.
This is how my life has been for quite some time. As usual, I enjoy it thoroughly.
The ritual continues outside. But a little further away, I hear different sounds, laughter and chatter, giving off the vibe of a festival.
I'm relaxed and enjoying everything around me, and everyone else seems to be as well. What a wonderful day.
But, like any good time, it has to come to an end. And sometimes, it ends tragically. How often does that happen? It's rare, but it can happen to anyone, anytime.
BOOOMMM!!!
A deafening noise shakes the entire place, followed by a shockwave that reaches me in an instant.
I feel like a lightning bolt has struck me, and then, as if the final struggle of the Light of Beginning, a ripple in space tears me apart. My body is ripped to shreds as it is blasted away.
Ah. I know this is the end for me, again.
◇
I wake up with a start. Maybe because I was resurrected, I don't have to adjust my eyes to the light.
I'm on a high ground, looking down at the valley. A fierce bolt of lightning strikes the same spot repeatedly, creating a bright flash and a loud thunder. That's not normal. There must be something powerful and dangerous happening there. That must be where the ritual is taking place.
I was blasted so far.
Anna!!! Her name flashes in my mind. She's in danger. I dash toward the source of the lightning.
Run! Run! Faster! I urge myself to run faster.
I see pieces of flesh and bone scattered on the road, like the remains of a butchered animal. They could be mine or someone else's.
Shit! Wait for me Anna! I'm almost there. I'm not going to let my first heroine die.