In a room of peace and stillness, a young boy named Kami lay resting. But his sleep was shattered by a jolt of fear—he awoke suddenly, face pale, heart racing, as if a burden weighed upon his very soul. A shadow of unease had crept into his dreams.
He sat up, trying to calm his breathing. Slowly, he steadied himself, then rose from his bed with quiet dignity. With a graceful motion, he drew back the curtains and was struck by the sight before him.
A breathtaking sunset stretched across the horizon—golden and crimson streaks painting the sky. He whispered to himself, "What a dazzling sunset…"
Refreshed by the view, Kami dressed swiftly. As he made his way to the sitting room, he declared with youthful excitement, "It's time for the greatest choir ever—to tidy up this humble abode!"
In a flash, he grabbed brooms, brushes, and tools. He began cleaning inside and out—watering the flowers, cutting the grass, wiping windows. All the while, he sang with a bright, rhythmic tone.
After finishing his chores, Kami entered a special room filled with hunting and battle gear. He packed a wooden box bag with a few essential tools and weapons, preparing for his daily hunting adventure.
He approached the front door, cracked it open, and peered outside. Seeing no one, he stepped out silently—but then, a calm voice called out:
"Kami."
Startled, he looked up and saw his old monk sitting on the roof, deep in meditation.
In a playful tone, Kami replied, "Yes?"
"Come up," said the monk, eyes still closed.
Kami climbed up to the roof and sat beside him. The monk handed him a wooden talisman with a small jewel embedded and strange symbols carved into it.
"This is your lucky charm for today," the monk said.
"Thank you, Gramps," Kami smiled.
The monk patted his head gently, and Kami turned to leave. But as he stood, his long scarf tangled around his foot. He tripped and fell face-first, groaning in pain.
Surprisingly, his gramps laughed heartily.
Kami stood up, rubbing his head, and said with a grin, "I'm off!"
The old man nodded, then called out as Kami descended,
"Luck shall be on your side."
The sun slowly hid behind majestic clouds, dimming the sky in a beautiful twilight glow.
---
Kami whistled as he marched into the forest. The deeper he went, the darker it became. At the heart of the woods, he pulled out an axe, chopped a few branches, and lit a small campfire to bring warmth and light.
Suddenly, a hare darted past him. Without hesitation, Kami gave chase.
The hare dashed toward a cave and vanished into its dark mouth. Kami followed, determined.
A light glimmered at the cave's end.
As he reached it, he lunged and caught the hare by its ears. They tumbled together out of the cave—and what lay beyond left Kami stunned.
A hidden grove, filled with blooming wisteria trees and lush vines, stretched out before him like a dream.
As he stood in wonder, he spotted a graceful deer not far away. Excited, he gently tied the hare, then readied his bow and arrow.
He approached slowly.
But before he could act—a massive wolf lunged from the shadows and tore into the deer. Kami froze in shock.
The wolf, its mouth dripping with blood, turned and locked eyes with him. It charged.
Kami stood his ground, arrow nocked and bow drawn. The wolf leapt, fangs bared.
In a moment of pure focus, Kami loosed the arrow. It struck the wolf in the neck mid-air. The beast lost its balance, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.
Kami approached cautiously and confirmed it was dead. He sighed in relief, tied the wolf's legs with rope, slung the hare back over his shoulder, and made his way toward a nearby stream to clean up.
At the water's edge, he removed his headband. His reflection shimmered in the water—his long, flowing hair visible, and at the center of his forehead, a strange mark.
"What is this seal all about?" he murmured.
As soon as he placed the headband back on, a giant koi fish burst from the stream.
With a smirk, Kami wrangled the fish, bound it in rope, and stacked it with the rest of his prey.
"This will do for the day," he said with satisfaction.
---
As he marched home, prey in tow, a cold wind swept past him.
"Huh? What was—"
Before he could finish his thought, a corrosive beam of light radiated down from the heavens, crashing into the hill where his home stood.
Kami froze, eyes wide with shock. His heart pounded as he dropped everything.
"Gramps…?"
The sky above roared with strange energy, and the air crackled with uncertainty.
Kami stood still, caught between fear and urgency, the light fading behind the clouds—his peaceful world about to change forever,
And so, with heart pounding and tears welling in his eyes, Kami ran—faster than he ever had—his voice breaking through the chaos.
"Gramps! Hang on!"
He screamed with everything inside him, voice raw with fear and desperation.
The hill that once stood calm and serene was now in ruin. Dust clouded the air, and boulders tumbled down like thunder. The earth quaked beneath his feet. The atmosphere reeked of smoke and scorched soil.
Kami darted through the falling debris, narrowly dodging the crashing rocks. His body moved with instinct and fury.
"Where are you, Gramps?!"
His cry echoed through the broken air, swallowed by the chaos.
In a burst of rage, he leapt into the air—and with his forehead, shattered a falling rock into fragments, his seal glowing faintly for a moment. Dust and gravel exploded around him, but he kept moving.
He reached the peak.
The dust slowly began to clear.
And what he saw made his breath catch in his throat.
Rivulets of blood were trickling down the stone steps of the hill—dark, thick, and fresh.
Kami stood frozen, his chest heaving.
His gaze followed the blood up the hill… and what he would find next would change him forever.