KANA
I stared at the lifeless body of the corrupted boar with pride as if it were my trophy for the triumph that I had achieved. The air had this faint stench of burnt flesh, which definitely came from the corpse. The surroundings went silent as well, and the chaos and wrath that once reigned in this place dispersed like ash in the wind. However, the battle left a mark as fallen, broken trees, disturbed soil, and murky pond water made their presence known.
The quietness didn't last long when my ears caught running footsteps nearing me. As I turned to look at its source, three familiar figures came into my field of vision, and I recognized them as my friends. Shino and Tanshiro both wore a worried look, while Mister Kenshi remained serious. But I did see his eyes take a glimpse of the enemy that I once fought before looking back at me.
"Are you hurt, Kana?" Shino's initial inquiry when they finally reached me.
"Just a few scratches. Nothing severe," I honestly admitted.
"Here, let me heal you," Shino offered and started delivering healing magic to the area where the most scratches were. Shino watched as Mister Kenshi approached the corrupted boar's dead body and uttered a question, "How did you even kill that thing?"
"Just got lucky, I think," I said.
"You are lucky indeed, because this boar had only just corrupted. It was still adjusting to the corruption that it had not reached its full potential yet," Mister Kenshi explained. "But still, for a young girl like you, defeating a corrupted creature is still a feat. But next time, wait for us before engaging to attack."
"I understand, Mister Kenshi," I agreed. "It won't happen again. But my initial plan was to actually wait for you. It's just that things took a sudden turn and I had no choice but to fight."
"We won't be late if we don't have any difficulties fulfilling our original plan," Mister Kenshi mumbled while looking at Tanshiro with utter seriousness. And this was not just pure seriousness, but there were also hints of anger and disappointment.
Curious, I looked at Tanshiro, who was staring at the ground opposite to my direction, with his right hand caressing his left arm, as if he was embarrassed by something. His face showed a clear expression of shame, and this made the strange feeling that I had been sensing for a while now intensified: the feeling that something was about him, but I couldn't point out what.
"Tell her, Tanshiro," Shino ordered, and when I looked at her, she looked disappointed and guilty.
I returned my gaze to Tanshiro and asked him, "What is it, Tanshiro?"
Tanshiro batted an eye at me before evading it again, but this time, he spoke, "Everything is just an act. My story isn't real. The village isn't real. Everything about me isn't real. I'm an actor, as well as the villagers and the bandits. In fact, the three of you have also become part of the act."
Strangely, this news was not a surprise for me. Not because I have suspected it, but because of that strange feeling. Nevertheless, I wouldn't deny the fact that I was disappointed.
"Turns out my hunch was right," Mister Kenshi declared.
"You knew?" Tanshiro asked.
"No, but it has my suspicion. First, it is true that this forest is not notorious for wild beasts and corrupted beings, but that doesn't mean this place is free from such creatures, so it's not natural to start a village here, especially since none of the villagers are fighters. Yes, this forest is a perfect place to ward off bandits and criminals, but how about the animals?
"Second, the moment we entered the village, Shino and I felt that we passed through a powerful ward of some sort. Powerful enough to keep the monsters out. That explains why the actors in there are so confident about their safety despite their location. And lastly, the houses look like they just got built a week ago."
"That's why you didn't kill any of the bandits?" Tanshiro guessed.
"Because they were not real bandits in the first place. But you, young man, are in big trouble."
"I know."
"Why, Tanshiro?" I asked. Shino just finished healing all of my minor wounds. "Why did you do all of this?"
"To impress someone," he answered.
"And just like that, you are willing to let other people die?" Shino questioned.
"You don't understand me!" Tanshiro exploded. "How would you feel if others expect you to be as great as your father? My father is a famous filmmaker in Aste City, no, in the entire Nodum. As his son, people expect me to follow his path. To become as great as he is. But he already did everything. What is there left for me to show the world? Until I thought of this genius idea. An act that even the actors didn't know they were acting. My father has yet to touch this kind of genre, so I will be the first! And people will find it-"
"Disturbing," Shino interjected. "At first, they will praise you for thinking much ingenuity. But once they found out that made people play a role without their consent and kill innocent lives for the sake of the act, their praises will turn into hatred and loathing. We can't please everyone, Tanshiro."
"Shino was right, Tanshiro," I agreed. "Assuming your plan was a success. We didn't know. You become famous. Other people finally saw you as great as your father. And then what? I understand where you are coming from, but that doesn't justify that you will resort to something like this."
"The bandits," Mister Kenshi butted in. "Did they know they would get killed for this role?"
"No," Tanshiro admitted.
***
Nothing was weirder than spending the night in a village that was actually not a real village. The three of us had decided the stay to guard Tanshiro and his whole filmmaking crew from any threats this forest could pose. But of course, we were keeping our distance. Looking at his face was something I couldn't stomach. At least for now.
One of the actresses, who took the role of Tanshiro's mother, approached me earlier to offer some dinner, but we bitterly declined. We knew it was childish to act this way, but it was undeniably true that what they did violated our privacy and our rights. We didn't do that for the past two days since Tanshiro joined; we were being filmed. Thanks to their camera shaped like a bird, they got to film without catching Mister Kenshi's watchful eyes.
"I'm sorry, guys," Shino suddenly said, stopping me and Mister Kenshi from eating. "I convinced you two to help him, only to discover that none of us is real."
"It's not your fault, Shino, so don't be sorry."
"Kana is right," Mister Kenshi seconded. "None of this is your fault. Your intention was good. You just wanted to help. If I didn't have those suspicions in me, I would feel the same way."
"But you knew," Shino protested. "You could've just told me."
"Correction, those were just my hunches. A pure guess. And the reason why I didn't tell you about it is because I don't want to ruin your good intentions. You really want to help him, and you feel so hopeful about it. It'll make me a villain if I destroy your hope," Mister Kenshi explained.
"I understand," Shino responded. "But there's still one thing that bothers me..." Shino looked at me. "How did you manage to kill that monster? Yes, Mister Kenshi said that it hadn't been that long since that boar got corrupted, but even so, a small girl like you takes down a beast like that. Much more an unawakened one."
I looked at Mister Kenshi, and I saw him nod, implying that it was fine to tell her about it. And so, I told Shino about myself as an early awakened. I told her how I got kidnapped, which shocked her, and then how I awakened while escaping the kidnappers along with other children.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that at such a young age," Shino apologized, but I just shook my head. "But what happened to you confirms one of the theories of awakening. I've read that emotion contributes to inducing an early awakening. Even a second awakening."
When Shino mentioned "second awakening", Mister Kenshi and I shared a look. We both knew that Mister Kenshi underwent a second awakening back at my village when they fought one of the Dark Wielders of the Dark Order. It looked like Shino was right about such a theory because if I remembered it correctly, Mister Kenshi was so upset about what the enemy did to Mister Daku that it unlocked a second awakening.
Shino continued interrogating me as an early awakened, and she was even excited to teach me about basic support spells since these spells were universal to all classes. She was also excited about asking Arano about techniques and tips on how to be a better marksman. But then she suddenly realized that Arano might get suspicious as to why she was suddenly interested in marksmanship when she was a mage. But she did tell me a few things that Arano told her about archery. And yes, she promised not to tell a single soul about me.
"Speaking of emotions, isn't that the goal as to why we are travelling to Aste City?" Shino asked. Mister Kenshi nodded. "So, are you saying that we are trying to get Daku to achieve a second awakening?"
"But isn't second awakening a very rare occurrence? Like awakening-into-a-healer-class kind of rare," I pointed out.
"Only that man who could help us knows," Mister Kenshi briefly answered. "But I will not be surprised if Daku achieves a second awakening. After all, he awakened as a healer, which is extremely rare, and he never stops to surprise us. So receiving another rare experience for him is something we can expect."