Akihiro stretches his arms and yawns, "It failed, I hink I've been here for too long." With a sigh, he closed the book, carefully placing it back on the wooden table.
As he shifted to leave the room, his eyes caught sight of old man Tom, sitting comfortably in his worn armchair, a knowing look in his eyes.
"Took you long enough been there for 9 hours now, have you found what you're looking for?" inquired old man Tom.
Akihiro hesitated for a moment, his gaze falling to the floor before meeting Tom's patient eyes. "No, I didn't find anything useful, I guess," he admitted, a tinge of disappointment coloring his tone.
Tom leaned back. "Hmm, I see. I suppose what you seek might be hidden within the annals of the kingdom, but if there's something specific on your mind, feel free to ask."
"The mother of spirits..."
Tom's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "The mother of spirits?"
Akihiro nodded, "Yes, is it possible to ever catch a glimpse of her, or has there ever been a case where someone has witnessed her appearance?"
Tom's eyes shifted to a cup resting on the table as he pondered Akihiro's question. "Well, the mother of spirits is said to be beyond mortal sight. It's believed to be impossible to lay eyes upon her. In fact, only those attuned to spirits can perceive and commune with their summoned entities but not the mother of spirits."
"I see. Thank you for your insight. I'll take my leave, but I'll be back soon," he affirmed, as he turned to depart.
Akihiro's hand reached for the doorknob, but before he could open the door, Tom spoke again. "I think you should go to the kingdom."
"I see. I'll consider it," Akihiro took his leave.
"Something looks different, could it be?" Tom thought to himself but brushed it off.
..
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..
[Richard's House]
Akihiro pushed open the front door, stepping into the warm embrace of his family home. The savory aroma of a well-prepared meal greeted him as he spotted his father, mother, and siblings bustling about in the kitchen. His father, Richard, shot him a wary glance, clearly concerned.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you," Richard inquired, trying to mask the worry in his voice.
"I... I was out somewhere, I guess," Akihiro mumbled, avoiding eye contact. His usual vibrant demeanor was conspicuously absent.
"Join us for the meal, Akihiro," Sarah, his mother, urged him gently.
"Yeah, come on, Aki! You must be starving. It's your favorite," chimed in Amelia.
Akihiro stood silently, lost in thought, ignoring his siblings' attempts to cheer him up.
Noah peered at Akihiro, concern written on his face. "What's wrong, bro?"
"Are you okay, son?" Richard stood up, looking at Akihiro with a mix of worry and compassion. "Come here, give your old man a hug." Akihiro remained unmoved, his eyes reflecting an inner turmoil.
Finally, Akihiro broke the heavy silence with a question that startled everyone.
"Tell me something. Who... What am I?" His voice carried an unsettling weight, echoing with an unspoken anguish that hung heavily in the air.
"Aki?" Sarah's voice trembled with concern.
"Answer me!" Akihiro's sudden outburst left the room in a stunned silence, his family struggling to comprehend the sudden shift in his demeanor.
Richard, taken aback, couldn't tolerate the disrespect. "Kid, it's not right to shout at your mother. I won't stand for it, even from my own son."
"Then say something!" Akihiro's tone bordered on desperation as he erupted again.
"Akihiro!" This time, Richard's voice thundered through the room as his hand made contact with Akihiro's cheek and slapped him.
Akihiro's gaze dropped, his eyes filled with accusation, "You liar". he abruptly turned and fled from the house, leaving his family behind.
"Akihiro!" Richard called out, futilely witnessing the receding figure of his troubled son.
Sarah's tears began to flow, her children nearby, offering what comfort they could.
As Richard watched the scene unfold. "I'm sorry. I'll go after him."
Meanwhile, Akihiro found himself far from home, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. "Why do you always hide the truth from me? I can't stand it."
He wandered towards the forest, gazing at the twinkling stars above. "Was I wrong?" Sobs wracked his body. "Why... why?" Suddenly, a noise jolted him upright.
"What was that?" Akihiro wiped his tears and scanned the forest. A rustle, and a small animal darted out. He let out a sigh of relief, only to then be engulfed in a strange sensation as his vision distorted with a purple hue.
"It's happening again. Why now?" Akihiro's heart raced as he surveyed the surroundings, noticing an unsettling, dark presence lurking within the woodland.
"What's... that?" Tremors shook his frame. "Is that aura coming from me?" A sudden paralysis gripped him, and as his consciousness wavered, he collapsed, his vision oscillating between the ordinary and the surreal, until darkness overtook him.
Unbeknownst to Akihiro, Richard, scoured the village, uttering his son's name.
"Akihiro!" His exclamation reverberated through the quiet streets until an ominous sensation gripped him.
"What was that," Without hesitation, Richard streaked towards the forest, his form blurring with speed until he discovered Akihiro's motionless body.
"Akihiro!" Richard's voice cracked with urgency as he reached for his son, breathing a sigh of relief as the strange aura dissipated. Tenderly cradling Akihiro, he made his way back home.
As they returned, Amelia and Noah rushed to meet them, embracing Akihiro's unconscious form with concern etched on their faces.
"What happened?" Sarah's voice trembled with worry.
"I found him unconscious. It's going to be okay. Help him rest in his room," Richard instructed, and his children nodded in agreement, carefully carrying Akihiro away.
As they left, Sarah's eyes welled up in distress. "What's happening, Richard?"
Drawing her into an embrace, Richard offered solace. "It's going to be okay. He's just going through a lot."
Amidst her tears, Sarah found comfort in his arms. "I'm worried."
"I know, but we'll get through this together," Richard reassured, his gaze filled with resolve.
..
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[Man Beast Realm]
Meanwhile, In the Man Beast world above Earth, Pengo , a beast like human arrived at his master Giret's lair. The guard, knowing of Pengo's mission, opened the doors for him.
Pengo approached Giret's throne, knelt before his master and declared, "My master, I have returned."
Giret acknowledged him, saying, "Rise, my warrior."
As Pengo stood, one of Giret's generals commanded him to report on the mission.
"The mission was a success. I have found him, the lost son of the Akatsuki, my master," Pengo announced.
"Wonderful, you never fail to impress me, my loyal warrior. Perhaps I should grant you a higher rank in my castle."
Pengo, however, had concerns, "But there's more... the boy was somehow able to detect my presence. It almost felt like he could see me. He stared with sharp vision, as if he could see right through me."
"Tell me more, did you sense any stigmata from him?"
"Now that you mention it... I didn't sense any stigmata from him. That boy..."
"He might be the one I've been seeking," Giret concluded.
General Tac, unimpressed, interjected, "How disappointing. You should be proud that Master praised you even with your failures and imperfections."
General Rabe, on the other hand, took a more diplomatic stance, "Let him be. He completed the mission. Besides, there's much work to do now that we've found the boy, don't you think, General Tac?"
Giret put an end to the dispute with a commanding voice, "Enough! You will not spew unworthy words in my presence."
The generals and Pengo promptly responded, "Yes, master."
Giret dismissed them, and Pengo left the throne room, preparing for the next phase of Giret's plans.