Chapter 5: Traumas from the past
The ethereal heat of the black flame intensified, and the ground beneath Kanae's feet seemed to dissolve. Without warning, she was dragged into an endless darkness. When she opened her eyes, the world had changed.
The devastated village stood before her once again, like a ghost from her past. Houses reduced to rubble, bodies scattered across the ground, the air saturated with the stench of blood and ashes. At first, Kanae thought it was just a simple memory, an echo of her mind, but something was different. Everything was too alive, too present.
"This is not just an illusion..." she murmured to herself, feeling a chill run down her spine.
The sound of a scream made her turn her head. A group of children was trapped between the rubble, while a grotesque demon loomed over them. Without thinking, Kanae unsheathed her sword and ran toward the creature.
The first strike was precise, quick. The demon fell to the ground, but before its body disintegrated, two more emerged from the shadows. Kanae did not stop. She struck again and again, her sword dancing through the air. But for every demon she killed, others took its place.
Hours passed. Then days. Kanae lost track of time. The demons never stopped. The children cried incessantly. The village remained in ruins.
At first, she fought with all her strength, each movement driven by her determination to protect the innocent. But over time, her body began to fail her. Her arms ached, her breath was erratic, and her sword seemed to grow heavier with each strike.
Weeks passed.
Kanae fell to her knees in the center of the village, surrounded by demons. The children she had tried to protect never stopped screaming, their voices piercing her mind like needles.
"I can't take it anymore!" she screamed, plunging her sword into the ground and looking up at the dark sky. Her tears fell uncontrollably. "Why won't it end? What kind of test is this?"
But there was no answer.
The demons did not attack her directly, but they did not stop either. They continued multiplying, invading the landscape, filling every corner with their presence. Kanae felt fear and despair beginning to root in her heart.
Months passed.
Despair gave way to resignation. Kanae stopped fighting. She sat among the rubble, watching the demons ravage everything. In silence, she watched as the children disappeared one by one, swallowed by the shadows. She knew they were illusions, but that didn't make it hurt any less.
However, she couldn't stop asking herself: Why am I here? Why do I keep failing?
The answer never came, and with each passing day, her spirit seemed to crumble more.
A year passed, or at least that's what it seemed.
Kanae had begun to walk through the village, wandering aimlessly, her feet dragging among the rubble. She had tried everything she knew: fighting, protecting, hiding. Nothing worked.
It was on one of those endless days that something changed.
She was walking among the ruins when she saw something unexpected: a mirror, intact, in the center of a collapsed plaza. Her reflection stared back at her, but it wasn't the face of the Kanae she knew.
"Who are you?" she whispered, unable to look away.
And then she understood.
"It's not the demons. It's not the screams. All of this... is me."
Kanae stood in silence before the mirror, watching how her reflection returned a gaze full of reproach and doubt. But this time, she did not look away. Instead, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath, letting the pain she had carried for so long flow, not as a burden, but as a reminder of who she was.
"It's not about being able to save everyone... It never was. What really hurts is doubting that this path makes sense."
Tears fell down her face, but not in desperation. They fell with the acceptance of what she had truly feared: losing her faith that humans and demons could coexist, that fighting for something bigger was worth it, even if the results were uncertain.
"I thought being strong meant never stopping, never doubting. But now I understand: true strength is in continuing even when it seems like there's no hope."
The mirror began to tremble, and Kanae stood up, wiping her tears with determination. Her voice rang out clear and strong:
"If this is a test, then I want you to understand: I won't stop. Not because I'm invincible, but because every step I take is a promise to those I want to protect. I don't need to save everyone. I just need to keep believing."
The mirror cracked, and with it, the village began to disappear. The demons faded into the air like smoke, and the screams ceased, leaving an absolute silence. For the first time, Kanae felt her heart at peace.
When she came to, she was standing in the forest clearing, with Anos before her. The black flame she had touched earlier was still burning in her hand, but this time, she felt neither weight nor heat.
Kanae took a deep breath, slowly collecting herself. She looked up at Anos, who watched her with an imposing calm, his presence as solid as a lighthouse in the midst of a storm.
"How did you do that?" Kanae asked, her voice firm but with a hint of distrust. "What kind of power is capable of playing with my mind like that... and how did you know my past?"
Anos crossed his arms, his tone direct and assured, without a trace of hesitation.
"What you experienced was magic, but not just any magic. I accessed your deepest memories to recreate what weighs most heavily on your heart. Not to torment you, but to see how you would face your own demons. As for your name..." —he looked at her intently, his voice as serene as it was firm—, "I discovered it by reading the thoughts of the young hunter who found me before you. Although he didn't say much, his mind gave me the information I needed."
Kanae furrowed her brow, a faint glimmer of unease appearing in her eyes.
"You read his mind?" she murmured, feeling a chill run down her spine.
"Yes," Anos replied with absolute calm.
Kanae frowned, but her tone remained firm.
"I knew you were powerful, but this... was different. In the trial, it was as if you tore my deepest fears and projected them before me. Why make me go through something like that?"
Anos crossed his arms, maintaining his imperturbable tone.
"Facing others is easy compared to facing the doubts you carry inside. Anyone who seeks to change the world first needs to understand what drives them, and what can stop them. It's not about whether you are strong or weak, Kanae. It's about whether you're ready to bear everything that comes with walking this path."
Kanae clenched her fists, but instead of stepping back, she took a step forward, her voice clear and confident.
"I don't know how many more tests you need to prove it, but I can assure you one thing: no matter how hard it gets, I won't stop as long as I can believe that a better future is possible. And if that means facing my fears over and over again, then so be it."
Anos tilted his head slightly, as if carefully evaluating each word.
"Your determination is admirable. But don't confuse your faith with stubbornness. Sometimes, to achieve what you want, you will have to make decisions that challenge what you think is right. If you really want a world where humans and demons can coexist, you will need more than strength and hope. You will need wisdom."
Kanae met his gaze, feeling the weight of his words but without hesitation.
"Then teach me. I didn't come here expecting it to be easy. I came because I know I need to be better for this dream to be possible. And also because I know that no one can do it alone. Not even you."
For the first time, Anos seemed slightly surprised. His gaze, though always unshakable, softened just a little.
"And why do you think I need someone?"
Kanae gave a small, empathetic smile.
"Because I've known people who carry the weight of everything on their shoulders, thinking it's their duty to bear it alone. And you have that same look. I don't know what you're really searching for, but I don't think it's just my strength you want to test."
Silence settled between them, broken only by the whisper of the wind. Finally, Anos spoke, his tone slower.
"Interesting perspective. You're right about one thing: I don't usually find people who try to understand me. Most either fear me or judge me."
Kanae shrugged slightly.
"I guess we all carry stories that others don't understand. But it's not about convincing them. It's about moving forward, no matter what they think. That's the kind of strength I'm trying to build."
Anos nodded slowly, as if her words had left an unexpected impression.
"Maybe you have more potential than I thought. But remember this, Kanae: the path to coexistence will be full of sacrifices. If you're willing to learn, then we'll walk together. But don't expect it to be easy, and prepare yourself for even more difficult trials."
Kanae looked at him with determination, nodding slightly as a gesture of respect.
"If that's the price, then I'll accept it. I'll do my part, but I won't walk alone. That's my promise, not just for me, but for everyone I want to protect."
Anos stepped back, his imposing presence still filling the space.
"Rest, Kanae. The journey will be long. And the first trial will begin soon. I'll teach you what you need to know, but first… I have to take care of something. my family shouldn't know where I am. I will create a clone to be with them while I am traveling with you. It'll be a quick matter."
Kanae smiled lightly, breaking the tension.
"Do you always think everything through so precisely?"
Anos gave a small smile, barely visible.
"It's the only way to prevent chaos from breaking out… at least unnecessarily."
Kanae laughed softly, even surprising herself. But within that laugh was something more: a mutual understanding. No matter how different they were, at that moment, they both knew that their journey was only just beginning.
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Author's Note:
I truly appreciate it, MR_HOOD, for the 5 Power Stones. Your support is what drives me to keep creating and sharing more content.
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