It's been 150 years since I left my family, my home...As I am standing on the edge of a high cliff, looking out over the land I had known for so long. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow but all I felt was coldness in my heart.
Today was different. Today was the day everything would change.
I could hear the distant sounds of laughter. My brothers and sisters were gathering, their voices scary...They were here for me, but not for a reunion. They were coming to end me.
As I held my very loved katana, Ember's Wrath is what I named him,tightly in my hand, I thought about everything I had learned over the years. My master had taught me how to use the fire element inside me, to create flames that could burn through anything. I had spent countless nights training, perfecting my skills. I was ready, but deep down, a part of me was terrified.
I remembered the lessons my master had given me, the way he always said, "Strength is not just in the sword…it's in the heart." I had always thought I understood that, but now, standing here, facing my own family, I realised how true those words were. I felt my heart race as I prepared for what was to come.
Then I heard them approaching. My eldest brother stepped forward, a wicked smile on his face. "Kijin," he called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "Do you really think you can escape us? We are your family!"
I clenched my jaw. "You were my family," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "But you've become something evil. I won't let you destroy everything we once were."
With that, he charged at me, sword raised high. I barely had time to react. I dove to the side, narrowly avoiding his strike. My Ember's Wrath shone as I readied myself, igniting with flames as I prepared to unleash my first move: Firestorm Slash. I focused my energy, feeling the heat build around me. I swung my sword, sending a wave of fire rushing toward him.
"Fool!" he shouted, raising his hand. Shadows gathered around him, absorbing the flames before they could reach him. The air crackled with energy as our powers clashed, sending a shockwave that knocked me back.
"Is this really how you want to end it, brother?" I called out, trying to reach the part of him I once loved. "We can still stop this!"
But my words fell on deaf ears. My other siblings joined the fight, surrounding me. My sister, with her icy stare, summoned dark tendrils from the ground, trying to trap me. I jumped into the air, feeling the rush of wind beneath me as I avoided her attack.
"Come back here!" she yelled, fury in her voice.
I gathered my strength and used Lightning Bolt, channelling energy through my body. I dove down like a comet, crashing onto the ground with a powerful shock. Electric sparks flew, and my siblings staggered back, momentarily stunned.
"Now's my chance!" I thought, adrenaline pumping through me. I had to act fast. I launched forward, using the Shadow Veil technique to hide myself in darkness. I moved silently, striking at them from the shadows, my Ember's Wrath flashing with every strike.
"Stop hiding, coward!" another brother shouted, desperation creeping into his tone. He summoned a storm of ice, the cold creeping toward me. I couldn't let it reach me. I summoned my own power, igniting my weapon with Flame Burst, melting the ice before it could touch me.
"Is this all you have?" I taunted, trying to mask my own fear.They were not the family I once knew...I agree that we are demons but we loved each other...
As the battle continued, I began to tire. I had trained for years, but facing my own kin…
Each fueled by corruption was different. I knew I had to find a way to turn the fight in my favour.
"Enough of this!" my eldest brother yelled, charging at me with fury. I barely had time to block his attack. The force knocked me backward, and I stumbled, trying to regain my footing.
But then I remembered the techniques my master had taught me. I gathered my energy and called upon the Demonic Roar, unleashing a powerful wave of sound that echoed across the battlefield. The ground shook beneath us as the sound hit my siblings, making them stagger back.
"Now!" I shouted, seizing the moment. I launched forward, attacking with a flurry of strikes. My Ember's Wrath became a whirlwind of death, each swing infused with fire and lightning.
But even as I fought, I realised that this battle was more than just physical.The love we had shared had become a weapon turned against me.
As the sun sank, painting the sky with darkness. I fought harder than ever. But the odds were against me. One by one, my siblings regained their composure, their eyes now filled with determination to end me.
In a moment of desperation, I unleashed my last technique, Azure Flame. My entire being ignited in a brilliant inferno, and I soared into the air, feeling powerful and free. "I won't give up!" I yelled, my voice echoing across the land.
But as my flames burned bright, I felt their blades piercing through the fire, striking me down. Pain exploded in my chest as I fell to the ground, the flames around me dying out.
Lying on the cold, hard ground, I looked up at the stars twinkling in the night sky. They felt so far away, so out of reach. "In another life, perhaps...we could be the family again," I whispered, my voice barely a breath..
And just like that, darkness enveloped me, pulling me into its cold embrace.
Was this truly the end?
As the darkness wrapped around me, I felt an odd sense of calm. My thoughts faded, and the world around me dissolved into nothingness. It was strange this was not the end I had expected. I thought dying would be more... dramatic, maybe with some epic music playing in the background. Instead, it was just silent.
But then, amidst the void, I noticed a white light. It was faint at first, like a distant star trying to peek through thick clouds. I felt a pull toward it, as if it were calling my name. "Is that...heaven?" I said, trying to remember if I had been good enough to earn a spot there. "Is this because i am a demon?I swear I didn't choose this."
As I drew closer, the light grew closer, I could see shapes forming around me. Was this what it felt like to be a cloud? Light and fluffy, floating through the air, with no responsibilities to worry about?
Then, just as I was getting comfortable with the idea of being a cloud, the light expanded, and I felt a sudden jolt. My body was being pulled, tugged, like a child yanking on a stubborn blanket. "Okay, okay! I'm coming!" I shouted, though no one was there to hear me.
In an instant, I was thrust into a new reality. A rush of sensations overwhelmed me with sights, sounds, and most importantly, smells. I had to admit, the smell of something cooking nearby was far more pleasant than my last battle.
"Wait a second... this doesn't smell like heaven," I thought, wrinkling my nose. "Is that...burnt bread?"
I snapped for a bit and thought,"Was my sense of humor this good?"
Before I could ponder it further, everything went black again. I felt weightless, floating in a sea of nothingness. Then, with a sudden plop, I found myself tumbling into a much softer place..
I blinked, trying to adjust to the light flooding my senses. The first thing I saw was the face of a woman with kind eyes, looking down at me. "Oh, what a beautiful baby!" she exclaimed, her voice warm and soothing.
"Thanks, but I've been told I was more handsome before," I thought, feeling a strange flutter in my chest. I tried to speak, but all that came out was a gurgle. "Great, I'm back to baby talk. Just what I wanted," I thought, rolling my eyes inwardly.
The woman lifted me gently, having me in her arms. "You're such a strong little boy," she said, smiling. "We'll name you Thaddeus!"
"Thaddeus?" I thought, a frown creeping across my infant face."Sounds like the name of a potato. I mean, sure, I can rock it. 'Thaddeus the Brave' has a nice ring to it...at least in a potato sort of way."
As she carried me through a small, cosy orphanage, I noticed other children playing, their laughter off the walls. "This place is... different," I realised, a wave of warmth washing over me. "No more fighting. No more darkness. Just… a chance to start over."
Suddenly, a loud crash interrupted my thoughts. A small child had toppled over a stack of toys, sending them scattering everywhere. "Well, it looks like chaos is still in style," I chuckled internally.
Just then, I felt a strange tingle deep within me. A flicker of energy sparked in my core. "Could it be?" I wondered, excitement bubbling up. "Is this... mana? Am I already waking up my powers? Great! I can't wait to make some dramatic entrances."
As I gazed around the orphanage, I realised I had a new life ahead of me. A life where I could learn and grow, a life far away from the bloodshed and betrayal.
But a question lingered in the back of my mind. "What about my family? The First Demonic Family? Will they find me again?" I shuddered at the thought but pushed it away. This time, I would be different. I would be stronger. And who knows? Maybe one day, I'd get to show off my new skills in a spectacular fashion preferably without any sibling rivalry.
With that thought, I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the orphanage wrap around me like a comforting blanket. I was Thaddeus now...