Narrative I - Inevitability of Fate
Episode 1 - Them, Rinne & Caius
POV: Third person
Fourth Epoch, Year 732 of the The Eclipsian Calendar
"Stop! Give it back to me, Caius!" exclaimed a young boy, approximately between the ages of 9 and 10 years old, as he chased after another boy who bore an uncanny resemblance to him, clutching a thick, worn-out book.
The boys, with locks of white hair cascading over their youthful features, possessed a pair of sparkling emerald eyes, plump lips, and noses that were perfectly proportioned. They frolicked around a lush green field adorned with vibrant flowers, a spectacle that delighted the beholder.
"Haha, if you want it back, catch me, Rinne," taunted Caius, as he quickened his pace, darting ahead.
"I'm warning you, Caius, I'm on the brink of losing my temper!" exclaimed Rinne, increasing his stride in an attempt to close the gap.
'Damn it, how can Caius be so fast?! Both of us share the same genetics!'
"Very well, have it your way. But remember, Caius, you brought this upon yourself," muttered Rinne as he stopped running, pressing his palms together firmly.
Witnessing Rinne's sudden halt, even Caius stopped running, staring at Rinne with a mix of curiosity and anticipation..
"Heh, are you already tired, Rinne?" shouted Caius as he tossed aside the book he held, summoning two golden colored, phantasmal swords, one in each hand.
"I've had it with you and your foolish antics! This time I was so close… so utterly close to resonating with a Vestigium of the Past," yelled Rinne as a swirling mix of red and black aura began to gather around him.
"But you had to go and interrupt me, god damnit!"
This revelation truly shocked Caius.
The shock of witnessing Rinne, typically composed, breaking down paled in comparison to what Caius was currently feeling.
A Vestigium of the Past. Rinne was on the verge of resonating a Vestigium of the Past!
Vestigiums of the Past were relics of ancient times, once wielded by gods when they roamed the land in the first epoch, now shrouded in myth and legend.
One must know the value of a single Vestigium of the past is greater than the wealth of small kingdoms!
Yet, it was no simple task. To unlock the dormant power within a Vestigium of the Past, one must comprehend its essence, understand its origin and source, and become one with it. The most challenging part? Gaining its acknowledgment.
Vestigium of the Past possessed consciousness. Only those deemed worthy could wield them.
Though Rinne had yet to earn the acknowledgment of the Relic, he stood on the border of tapping into their power!
In this world, where few Vestigium of the Past existed, fewer still had been connected to anyone, and even fewer acknowledged a wielder.
Countless groups and organizations had formed with the sole ambition of comprehending and understanding these powerful ancient relics, yet none had come close to realizing their ambitions.
And now, something that even the most esteemed sages had failed to achieve was within Rinne's grasp, a mere ten-year-old child!
If word of this were to spread, it would send shockwaves throughout the world!
Now, Caius understood why Rinne got so angry despite always staying composed despite the numerous pranks Caius had pulled on Rinne in the past.
"Rinne, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to screw you over like this! To ease your anger you can beat me until your heart's content," said Caius as he sheathed his swords and straightened his posture, meeting Rinne's gaze head-on.
"I know this won't make up for your loss, but it's the only gesture I can offer to demonstrate my sincerity. I'm sorry!" said Caius in a tone tinged with remorse.
"Hit you? Do you think merely breaking your bones is enough to cool down my anger?! I won't stop until you're lying lifeless before me!" screamed Rinne as the flames of black and red around him began to coalesce into palm-sized orbs.
'Damn, Rinne has completely snapped! Although I promised to let him hit me, I don't want to die such a meaningless death, and knowing Rinne, he might just kill me now! I'm sorry, Rinne, but just this once, I will use a little force until you've regained your senses,' thought Caius as his golden shining swords appeared in his hands once more.
"Wither away!" screamed Rinne as he hurled the orbs toward Caius.
Instead of evading them, Caius chose to charge straight ahead. As the orbs approached, he slashed with his left sword, slicing one in half and causing it to disperse. What followed was a flurry of swift slashes, each aimed at the incoming orbs, cutting them down one by one.
After dispelling all the orbs, Caius turned to where his next target, Rinne was, only to find him gone.
'Tch… The orbs were but a distraction! He got me!' realized Caius, his guard rising in response to Rinne's sudden disappearance.
"Damn it, Rinne! Where are—"
"Behind you, idiot," said Rinne, interrupting Caius as he prepared to strike with a sword forged from his red and black flames.
"Who is the true idiot here, Rinne?" retorted Caius as he swiftly turned around, swinging both his swords, his body blanketed in a strange golden aura, toward Rinne.
With the sword in his right hand, Caius deflected Rinne's aura sword, while with the sword in his left hand, he slashed diagonally. However, to his astonishment, his sword passed through Rinne's figure, causing it to dissipate into particles.
'Shit! I forgot about Rinne's speciality!' thought Caius as he frantically searched for Rinne, only to be suddenly kicked in the back.
"It's you… idiot."
The force of Rinne's kick sent Caius tumbling several meters away.
Struggling to rise, Caius felt a weight pressing down on his chest, preventing him from getting up.
"Any last words?" asked Rinne, standing above Caius, one leg planted firmly on his chest, his aura sword pointed at Caius' neck.
"I see… You lured me out with those orbs. Following that, you used that annoying replacement trick of yours. I, like a fool, took that bait splendidly. In that moment of vulnerability, you attacked me from behind," sighed Caius.
"As always, fighting you is no fun Rinne" said Caius as he tried getting up.
"Stay down, idiot!"
"Not quite right. From the beginning, he didn't move a single step from where he stood. He orchestrated the use of those orbs, foreseeing your direct charge towards him, drawing you closer to him. Following that, he used an invisibility incantation, leading you to believe he was preparing for a sneak attack. The rest, as they say, is history," said a feminine voice emanating from behind Rinne. The voice, melodic yet authoritative, held them both captive.
Upon hearing this voice, both Rinne and Caius froze. The sword in Rinne's hand vanished, and the golden aura enveloping Caius' body dissipated.
Both of them turned their heads mechanically toward the source of the voice.
In their line of sight appeared an ethereal beauty. She possessed cascading locks of lustrous golden blonde hair that shimmered like spun silk under the gentle caress of sunlight. Each strand seemed to pirouette with its own radiance, framing her delicate features with a halo of warmth and light. Her eyes, the same emerald green hue as Rinne and Caius, sparkled with a serene depth, reflecting the tranquility of a placid lake.
She was smiling, though the smile didn't seem to reach her eyes.
"M-mother, what brings you to the garden?" stammered Caius as he rose to his feet beside Rinne, a twitching smile betraying his fear.
On the other hand, Rinne stood utterly flabbergasted, unable to utter a word. It appeared he was envisioning the punishment awaiting him.
"Caius, wipe that foolish grin off your face. Am I truly that intimidating? And Rinne, fear not. I won't be chastising either of you today," reassured the woman.
Indeed, this woman was none other than the mother of Rinne Ares von Strongheart and Caius Ares von Strongheart, Jillian von Strongheart.
"Anyway, follow me; your grandfather summoned you both. The maids couldn't locate either of you, which is why I'm here," said Jillian with a smirk playing on her lips.