The hall, shrouded in shadows, pulses with the echoes of ancient horrors. In the middle of this vast, dimly lit room, a young boy kneels, his body trembling under the weight of his anguish. His short black hair clings damply to his forehead, matted with sweat and tears. He wears a simple t-shirt and half-pants, more suited for a summer day in the park than for this grim scene. His handsome face, now marred by streams of tears, bears the weight of the agony of witnessing his beloved mother's torment.
His appearance suggests a life of privilege—soft skin untouched by hardship, a physique that is neither scrawny nor bulky, reflecting meticulous care. Yet now, faced with his mother's suffering, all signs of ease and comfort have fled. The strength that once coursed through him seems to have abandoned him, leaving him on his knees, drained and powerless.
His youthful voice, choked with sorrow, rises in desperate plea amidst the cruel tableau.
"Mother... please," he whispers, his words fragile against the grim silence. "I cannot bear to see you suffer so."
His voice trembles with innocence shattered by the brutality around him. He clasps his small hands together as if in prayer, his young frame quivering with each heart-wrenching sob.
The sounds of torment are merciless—iron rods strike with relentless precision, their impacts echoing through the hall like grim percussion. Arrows find their mark with chilling accuracy, each strike adding to the scene of anguish. Yet, undeterred, he continues to cry out, his pleas a fragile call for mercy.
"Make it stop," he implores, his voice echoing through the cavernous hall. "Please, make them stop hurting her."
As the shadows deepen around him, the contrast between his innocent visage and the surrounding brutality becomes stark. His tears, glistening in the faint light, mirror the pain etched upon his young face—a silent testament to his despair and the cruelty of fate.
"Mommy," he whispers, his voice breaking, as he scratches the floor with his tiny fingernails. The weight of helplessness bears down on him, a burden too heavy for his young shoulders. His cries—a poignant lamentation of a child confronting the unfathomable depths of cruelty and the agony of witnessing his mother tortured.
Amidst the grim scene, the Mother Goddess hangs in chains, her body a canvas of suffering, yet her spirit remains steadfast. As Kaito's cries fill the hall, she opens her eyes and gazes at him with a mix of love and serenity, despite the agony.
"Kaito, my dear child..."
Her voice, though strained, carries a tender warmth that belies her suffering.
"Do not despair for me. Every moment we shared, every smile, every tear—they are etched into my heart forever."
She speaks with serene strength, her words a balm amidst the brutality.
"You have brought light into my life. I am grateful for every day, every laugh, every hug we shared. Though it seems I won't be able to continue with those, your mother is truly sorry."
As she speaks, memories flicker behind her eyes—the joy of Kaito's laughter, the innocence of his questions, the warmth of his embrace.
"No matter what happens here, know that I carry your love with me always. It sustains me, even in the darkest hours."
Her voice falters with pain, but she continues with unwavering determination.
"You are my light, Kaito. Hold onto that light, for it will guide you through the shadows. Our time together has been a gift—a treasure that no darkness can ever diminish. Do you remember when you asked me about my greatest secret?"
Memory:
A memory flashes through her mind: a seven-year-old Kaito playing with his toys on the bed while his mother adjusts tiny clothes for him, singing softly.
He looks up with curious eyes and asks, "Mama, what is your GREATEST SECRET?"
She pauses, thinking, then smiles.
"One day, I will tell you, my little honey!"
Present:
"My greatest secret is that I am the Mother Goddess, and you are not Kaito Yamashiro, rather you are Kaito..."
Her love-filled eyes now reflect regret and helplessness.
"Please forgive this helpless mother for failing to keep you happy any longer."
She breaks her chains and falls to the ground with a heavy thud. Seeing this, young Kaito leaps towards his mother as if starving for her embrace, but to his shock, he runs through her as if she were a mere projection. Her eyes fill with a profound regret and helplessness.
"I am not truly with you right now. You are in the same place as me but in a different dimension created with ritual magic. It consumes my life force to keep you safe from detection."
He understands, having seen enough cartoons to grasp the gravity of the situation. The realization makes it even more painful for him as he comprehends the price his mother is paying to meet him.
Step.
Step.
A figure in silver armor enters the room, his katana at his hip.
He says something to Kaito's mother, who still hangs in the air like a projection.
...
...
As he slices through her breasts, the projection of Kaito's mother is engulfed in flames.
"It seems the time has come," she says. "Here, I give you the power of a hero. Live your life without regrets. To uproot a plant, you must remove it from its root, or it will grow again."
With her final words, she moves forward on her palms and kisses Kaito on his forehead.
Suddenly, Kaito feels as though he is being crushed under a mountain as fifteen small, multicolored stones emerge from the Mother Goddess's and her daughters' chests.
"These are our spirit stones. With these, you can defeat the hero if you choose, or live peacefully in the Azora Forest, where you will find yourself shortly. Please, take them. This is all we can offer."
The stones fly toward him, splitting into larger and smaller parts. The larger parts are absorbed into his body, while the smaller parts accumulate beside him.
"Don't worry, she will take good care of you. Remember, never confront this madman until you can shatter worlds with a single movement, until you can force the entire world to kneel. Live as you wish, knowing she is always with you."
As the space around him begins to crack, he is pulled away from his mother, a void forming between them.
"I love you! I will always be with—"
Before he can hear more, he feels as if he's been thrown against a moving train and loses consciousness. The last image burned into his heart is his mother's face—smiling with satisfaction, tears flowing, and eyes filled with longing as she yearns for one last embrace before her final slumber.
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(A/N: I guys!, I am truly sorry for the delay but it took some time as well. As for the next few chapter, they are going to be just adventurous so don't miss them. Don't forget to comment how you felt, and where I need improvement and if speech is not so normal or too formal.)