DAKU
The fire crackled as one of its fuels lost its strength after being burned to a crisp. This released embers that resembled those of fireflies.
The children were sleeping soundly on their makeshift sleeping mat made of leaves. Even though we were here in the open, vulnerable, and surrounded by a thick forest, they still managed to close their eyes and surrender themselves for a good night's sleep.
Kenshi was on look-out duty, and he was so dedicated to it because of how he firmly and seriously observed the surroundings with his watchful eyes. Ever since we decided to spend the rest of the night here, he has become like that. I could say that he really cared for these children a lot.
"You should get some sleep," Kenshi suddenly said as he stared into the dark void on his right. "I know you're tired."
"But so are you," I protested.
"Don't worry about me. This is not my first time to pull an all-nighter."
"But that doesn't mean you don't need to sleep."
"No one's gonna stand guard if we both sleep at the same time."
"Then, you sleep first."
Kenshi closed his eyes and heaved a sigh, a sign of irritation. "You need it more than I do."
"Are you two fighting?" echoed a voice that I recognized as Kana. I watched her pull herself from where she slept earlier and rubbed her eyes to remove any bit of drowsiness.
"Did we wake you up?" I asked.
Kana shook her head.
"I could barely sleep. I kept dreaming of the moment that Shiro and I tried to escape the abductors. It still scares me," Kana narrated. I could feel her fear reeking out of her body, and there was nothing I could do to relieve her of it. Her mind was destroyed, and only time could heal it. If only my magic could heal mental trauma.
"Come here," I invited her. Kana carefully stood from her spot, trying not to wake up the other slumbering children. When she reached me, I gestured for her to lie down and use my lap as her pillow. Just like the time when we got separated from Kenshi and her mother.
"It's okay to be scared, Kana, because I get scared sometimes, too. But what's not okay is when you let that fear get the best of you. Fear keeps us human. It reminds us that we are beings of emotions and that those emotions are valid," I lectured while caressing her head to console her.
"Thank you, Mister Daku," Kana replied, and I just smiled even though she didn't see it.
I returned my eyes to the children but got distracted when I caught the bow and arrow Kana used to attack the snake back then. Curiosity filled my mind as questions poured in like raging waters.
"I've been meaning to ask you this, Kana," I began.
"What is it, Mister Daku?"
"Who taught you how to use the bow and arrow?" I could see from the corner of my eye that Kenshi was interested as well in knowing the answer to my question when he shifted his face toward us.
"Believe me or not, Mister Daku, it's my first time holding a weapon. I don't even know how I was able to use it."
Kenshi and I shared a look, and we both had this perplexed expression on our faces, inquiring about the reason behind Kana's ability to wield such a weapon.
Unawakened individuals, or commoners, were still able to wield different weapons, but without the gift, their weapons would render them powerless. I'd mentioned before that the damage a swordsman inflicted using his sword is ten times more potent than if the mage used it. This was because the mages were not destined to wield such a weapon.
The same applied to the commoners who were not destined to use them.
Kenshi and I knew well that Kana had not awakened yet for one main reason: she was still not at the right age to get awakened. But the way those arrows struck the snake's eye with such force, only an awakened marksman could do it.
This popped the question: Did Kana awaken early?
"Also, Mister Daku, I could do this," Kana got up from my lap and sat facing me. All of a sudden, her body glowed red. Could this be-
"Support Magic," Kenshi mumbled, and he was right. This was Vigor, a support magic that can boost the strength of the caster. If Kana was able to use it, then there was no doubt that she had awakened. But how was this possible?
Kenshi's reawakening was not that surprising because there had been records about it since then, but Kana's case...it was my first time.
"What is it, Mister Daku? You looked confused," Kana pointed out.
"When did you know you could do this, Kana?"
"Back in the carriage. I was just praying that time to go home and save the other children, and then suddenly my body glowed red," she shared. "I could say this is a gift from the gods...a miracle. Because if it wasn't for this power, we wouldn't be here."
A miracle. It had been a while since I last heard that word.
"Listen to me, Kana. No one should know that you can use support magic and wield an arrow. If it's not necessary, do not use them," I warned her.
"But why, Mister Daku?"
"People fear those things that they couldn't understand, but some people go crazy for those things they want to understand. If the world knows a child like you can do great things, they'll either fear you or use you."
"But can I tell Shiro about it? We promised not to hide secrets from each other."
"I don't think you can, Kana. For now, no one can know except me and Mister Kenshi. Do you understand?"
I knew my request was hard for her, knowing that he had made that promise to Shiro, but we had to be careful. We might not know what could happen to Kana if the world knew about her. I was pretty sure they would extort and exploit her just to take advantage of her.
We must protect her, and this time, I would make sure of it.
***
"Is everyone ready to go?" I asked everyone who had been quiet since they woke up. No one answered. Probably they were shy or still in a state of shock and trauma, and their brain forgot to function properly. "I'll take that as a yes. Let's go."
Kana and I led the group in front while Kenshi guarded the rear. It would take us a whole day to reach the city gate using this route because going back to the black market was not a good idea. Yes, it would take less time, and it was faster, but with these children, everyone in there would suspect. And we couldn't afford to get ourselves into trouble while babysitting these kids.
So we had no choice but to take this path. We knew it would not be easy, but if done progressively, we would get there at some point.
The sun was still not up when we started walking, but the sky was already starting to have this hue of blue. A sign of a rising sun.
Everyone was silent. No one dared to talk or make a noise. Only footsteps could be heard, and indistinct noises of nearby critters and insects. It felt uncomfortable to be honest, but I couldn't just for them to talk with me. Even Kana was quiet.
"Everyone, stop," Kenshi suddenly ordered, getting all of our attention. He was staring at the ground, but I knew he felt something, and now he was figuring it out.
I tried to feel it, and I could hear a faint clicking noise of something. There was also a sound that resembled thunder. My brows furrowed as I tried to recognize what it was.
"Someone's coming, Mister Daku!" Kana announced, and my eyes darted from her to the road ahead of us.
A carriage was approaching in our direction.
Kenshi ran in front of us and shielded us with his body. I covered the children who were not trembling in fear behind me. I could feel their body shaking as they held onto me.
Kana, on the other hand, was holding her bow with an arrow. Her face showed no fear but bravery. She looked ready to fight, and she wouldn't hesitate to release her arrow if she had to.
I readied myself as well to assist Kenshi with his fight, even though we have yet to find out the intention of the approaching persons. I hoped they were just merchants in the black market and not some bandits trying to ambush us.
"Oi!" a voice roared, originating from the carriage. I squinted my eyes to have a clearer view, and my heart burst into utmost joy when I recognized the face of the source of the voice.
"Oanya!" I called out to him while waving my hand.
The carriage stopped a few meters in front of us, and Oanya jumped out of it. He cheerfully ran towards us wearing the same smile.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I came here to get you!" he replied. He looked behind me, and this time, it was he who asked, "Is that them? They're so tiny!"
"Who is he, Mister Daku?" Kana inquired.
"A friend of ours. He helped us to find you. It was he who made this possible. He basically saved you, too."
"Don't exaggerate it, pal! I'm just doing my job!" Oanya bashfully replied. "Alright! Shall we go home now?"
It was such a huge relief that Oanya came with a carriage. I was actually worried about the kids who had to walk the whole day just to get home. I could say that was our luckiest day yet. We found Kana, no one was hurt, and Oanya came to get us home.
Riding the carriage only made a small difference if compared to traveling on foot. But the journey was not boring because of Oanya. His cheerfulness and silly personality somehow diverted the kids from the traumatic experience they went through.
Oanya kept them busy by showing them his tiger tails and paws. It was their first time seeing a beastly, so I understood their amazement and reaction. Even Kana couldn't help but join them as well.
They were so busy with our halfbreed friend that they didn't notice we just entered the city. Kenshi volunteered to bring the kids to the headquarters so that the guards could inform the parents. Meanwhile, I asked Oanya to drop me and Kana at the shop, which he gladly accepted.
"I'll be back once I'm done," Kenshi said, and I nodded in response.
The carriage left while Kana and I stood before the door of the shop.
"I'm finally back," Kana mumbled. And the way her body jerked told me that she was crying. Probably tears of happiness.
"Let's go see them. They've been waiting for you since yesterday," I said.
Kana wiped off his tears and regained her composure. It was she who walked first while I followed behind her. When she reached the door, she held onto the handle before shoving it open. The bell caught the attention of those behind the counters, and one of them made his eyes widen in shock before sprinting toward us.
"Kana!" Shiro screamed and launched himself for a hug. The two shared tears of both sorrow and joy while holding each other in a reassuring embrace. "You're finally back! You're finally back!"
"I'm home, Shiro," Kana replied.
Shiro looked at me with his face bathed in tears. "Thank you, Mister Daku! Thank you for bringing Kana back!" I smiled and patted his head.
"Thank you as well, Shiro, for waiting for us."