Tatsuya sat by the flickering fire, the warmth brushing against his skin as the old elemental mage sat across from him, his sharp eyes fixated on the flames. Days of intense training under the mage's guidance had made Tatsuya stronger, but his mind still churned with countless unanswered questions. The old man had taught him much about controlling elemental power, but tonight, the atmosphere felt heavier, as if something profound weighed on the old mage's heart.
The old man finally broke the silence, his voice low but clear. "Do you know Mori?"
Tatsuya was startled by the name, pulling him back into distant memories. Mori had once been a mentor, a mysterious figure with many hidden secrets.
"You know Mori?" Tatsuya asked, curiosity rising within him.
The old mage nodded slowly. "I knew him long ago. Mori was once my student," he said, his tone lowering as if he were recalling a distant past. "Did he ever speak to you about a box?"
Tatsuya furrowed his brow, trying to dig through his memories. A box... the mention of it was faint, almost forgotten. But as the old man brought it up, pieces of an old puzzle began to surface in Tatsuya's mind fragments of a mystery buried deep within his memories. Yes, Mori had indeed possessed a peculiar box, one he had always kept carefully hidden, never revealing its true purpose.
Tatsuya reached into his bag, pulling out the box to show the old mage. The surface of the box was etched with strange patterns that he had never given much thought to before. But upon closer inspection, he realized that similar symbols had once adorned the walls of an ancient temple he had visited the Temple of Blood. Or had he imagined it?
"This box..." Tatsuya began, his voice trailing off.
The old mage nodded gravely, his eyes darkening with the weight of his words. "That box is tied to the very fate of this world. Inside it lies an ancient power capable of shifting the balance of any conflict. Mori sacrificed much to keep it from falling into the wrong hands."
A chill crept down Tatsuya's spine. The secrets surrounding the box were no longer just a passing tale.
"Wait, Mori?" Tatsuya asked, still trying to piece things together. "He was the guardian of the box? I thought it was protected by the Three Legendary Heroes?"
The old mage smiled, a sharp glint of wisdom in his eyes. "Yes, the Legendary Heroes played their part in the great battle long ago. But after the war, their duties couldn't end. They entrusted certain responsibilities to their successors those who could protect what they could not. Mori was one such chosen guardian, tasked with safeguarding the box and the immense power within."
Tatsuya felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders. He had always thought of Mori as a simple toy merchant, but now he realized Mori had carried a far greater burden. But why had Mori given the box to him?
The old mage's voice pulled Tatsuya from his thoughts. "Mori was cautious. He knew that the secrets contained within this box couldn't be shared easily, even with those closest to him. The power it holds could destroy the world if it fell into the wrong hands. That's why Mori kept silent."
Tatsuya looked down at the box in his hands. The strange patterns on its surface seemed to pulse with a hidden energy. Memories of the Temple of Blood flooded his mind, chaotic like a dream. He wasn't sure if he had truly seen those symbols there, but one thing was certain: there was a connection between the box and that temple.
"What should I do next?" Tatsuya asked, his voice firm with newfound determination.
The old mage regarded him for a long moment before answering. "You must continue where Mori left off. He kept the box safe from those who would misuse its power, but they will never stop searching for it. If you wish to protect this world, you must uncover the truth about the box and the power it holds. Your first step is to return to the Temple of Blood. That place holds important clues. Perhaps Mori intended for you to unlock its secrets."
Tatsuya nodded, his resolve hardening. The Temple of Blood—he had to return there and see if it held the key to the mystery of the box. Standing up, he carefully placed the box back into his bag, steeling himself for the journey ahead.
"Remember," the old mage added, his tone more serious than ever.
Tatsuya paused, turning back to face him. The mage was more than just a mentor now—he was a protector of ancient secrets, much like Mori had been. "I will succeed."
The old mage smiled, though there was an undercurrent of worry beneath his calm demeanor. "I believe in you, but be careful. You're not the only one seeking the box. Dark forces have risen, and they won't stop until they claim the power within."
Tatsuya understood the gravity of the warning. He tightened his grip on the box, a surge of determination flooding his heart. "I won't let them succeed."
With renewed resolve, Tatsuya left the old mage's hut and set out toward the Temple of Blood. The secrets of the box were beginning to reveal themselves, but he knew that each step closer to the truth would bring greater dangers.
The box was no longer just a mystery to be solved it was a burden, a responsibility he could not escape. And deep within Tatsuya, a new sense of purpose began to take shape: the coming battle would not be for his own survival alone, but for the safety of the entire world.