Chapter 1
At night, Morinaka transforms into a world of shadow and quiet mystery. The ancient forest is cloaked in deep darkness, with only the silver light of the moon piercing through the thick canopy, casting delicate patterns on the forest floor. Morinaka at night is an enchanting and enigmatic world, where the forest seems alive with secrets waiting to be discovered.
The festival in a village of Morinaka was lively, filled with laughter and joy. Performers dazzled the audience with their magic, captivating everyone with displays of wonder and excitement. Haruki stood at the threshold of his home, his heart racing as he listened to the distant sounds of celebration.
"Father, I'm going to see the festival," he called out to the only family he had left.
His father, aged and frail, looked up from his chair with a faint smile. "Just be careful, Haruki. Stay close to home."
With a nod, Haruki stepped into the night, feeling the thrill of adventure coursing through him. The village was just a few meters away, illuminated by lanterns and the laughter of his neighbors. The excitement was palpable, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of treats from the food stalls.
As he reached the heart of the village, he was drawn to the stage where a performer declared with great fervor, "I am a Beast Master! Yes, you heard right, a Beast Master!" The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers echoing through the night.
"What is a Beast Master, anyway?" Haruki wondered aloud, the question lingering in the air as the performer continued to boast about his powers. But before he could ponder it further, something terrifying happened.
Without warning, a large fox beast appeared on stage, its eyes gleaming with a feral intensity. The crowd gasped in shock as the performer stumbled back, trying to regain control. But it was too late. The beast lunged, its powerful jaws silencing the bravado of the performer in an instant.
Panic erupted. Screams filled the air as chaos unfolded around him. Haruki felt his heart race as he turned, instinctively knowing he needed to flee. The beast roared, a sound that echoed through the village like thunder, sending waves of terror through the crowd.
With every ounce of fear driving him, he sprinted back toward his home. As he ran, the world around him seemed to blur; the laughter of the festival replaced by the frantic cries of villagers and the ominous growl of the beast.
But as he reached his house, the true horror of the night hit him like a physical blow. His home, once a sanctuary, now lay in ruin. The door was shattered, and the walls bore deep scratches, as if something primal had clawed its way through.
"Father!" he screamed, his voice cracking with desperation. He pushed through the debris, his heart racing with dread. He stumbled into the dim light of the living room, and there, on the floor, lay his father, gasping for breath, the life slowly draining from his eyes.
"No… no!" Haruki cried, his voice a strangled whisper. He rushed to his father's side, falling to his knees as the weight of reality crashed down around him. "Father, please, don't leave me! I'm here!"
His father's eyes flickered open, a mixture of pain and love reflected in their depths. "Haruki…" he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "You must listen to me."
Tears streamed down Haruki's cheeks as he held his father's frail hand. "No! Don't talk like that! I can help you. I'll get you medicine. Just hold on!"
"Haruki, please…" His father's voice was weak, each word a struggle. "You have… a special power. You can tame beasts. You are… a Beast Master."
The words struck Haruki like a lightning bolt, but all he could feel was despair. "No, Father, don't leave me! I can't lose you! Not like this!"
"Promise me," his father gasped, his eyes locking onto Haruki's with an intensity that made his heart ache. "You must find Ryuji… in the last mountains… of Morinaka. He will teach you. You have… to go…"
"Please, don't go! I can't do this without you!" Haruki begged, his body trembling as he clutched his father's hand tighter.
But the light in his father's eyes began to fade. "Haruki… remember… you are never alone…" And then, he was gone.
"No! No! No!" Haruki screamed, a raw, primal sound that echoed into the night. The reality of his father's death hit him like a tidal wave, pulling him under into a sea of grief and despair. He fell forward, burying his face in his father's chest, sobs wracking his body. The world around him faded, leaving only the pain that clawed at his heart.
He couldn't breathe. The sorrow consumed him, a dark void that threatened to swallow him whole. "I can't believe you're gone," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "I should have protected you. I should have been there!"
Time lost all meaning as he cried, the weight of loss pressing down on him like a heavy shroud. Memories flooded his mind—the laughter they shared, the stories his father told, the warmth of his embrace. All that remained now was an empty space where his father's presence had once been.
Finally, the sobs began to subside, but the ache in his chest remained. He wiped his tears with trembling hands, trying to gather his thoughts. In his heart, he felt a stirring, a glimmer of resolve amidst the grief. His father had believed in him, had entrusted him with a destiny.
"I will find Ryuji," he whispered to the night, determination igniting within him. "I will become a Beast Master, just like you wanted. I won't let your death be in vain."
As he stood up, his heart heavy but resolute, he glanced back at the wreckage of his home one last time. The moonlight bathed the scene in a haunting glow, a reminder of the life that had been. But he could not linger in sorrow. He had a path to follow, a journey to begin.
With that thought fueling him, Haruki stepped into the darkness of the night, ready to embrace the uncertainty ahead. The ancient forest loomed before him, vast and daunting, but he would not be afraid. He would honor his father's memory and become the Beast Master he was meant to be.
With each step, he felt the weight of his sorrow transform into a flame of determination, guiding him into the depths of Morinaka, where adventure awaited and the echoes of the past would spur him forward.
As he ventured deeper into the forest, the shadows enveloped him, but he held on to the promise of his father's words: he was never alone.