A line of horses, soldiers mounted atop them, escorted a carriage being dispatched from the Kingdom of Ernest. They seemed to be in a rush, riding with urgency as though something important awaited them.
It cuts back to Kuro laying in bed in the dead of night.
Kuro slowly gets out of bed and heads to the washroom before returning to his room {NO:19} .This time, however I — ..he can't seem to fall back asleep.
Outside, Zen is spotted standing on the deck, his hood drawn low as if he's checking for something… or hiding from someone.
Kuro sighs, stretching his skinny arms toward the ceiling above his bed
"It's crazy how much has happened," he mutters to himself. "Just a week ago I was playing with my friends in the village… and now I'm far, far away from home."
He slowly makes a fist
"I'm not sure why… but in my heart, I feel safe with Zen. Like he's been with me all my life…"
The thought lingers, and it continues as he lowered his hand, closed his eyes, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
**Cut**
Bright light shines across Kuro's face. His eyes flicker open, adjusting to the morning glow. He sits up slowly, placing his feet carefully on the floor before scanning the room. After a moment, he heads to freshen up.
On his way back, he runs into Zen. He looked more serious than the other days..
"After you're done washing up, meet me in the room," Zen says calmly. "We need to finish the discussion from the other day."
Kuro nods, though he isn't fully ready for what might come out of Zen's mouth…
A few moments later, after washing and changing, Kuro returned in a plain T-shirt and dark pants
He pushes open the door quickly
"I'm here. I'm ready. Tell me everything you promised you would." He notices Zen isn't wearing his hood this time. It makes him feel slightly more at ease
"As you grow older," Zen begins, "I'll explain more about myself and who I am…. But for now, we'll continue what we left off at the inn."
Kuro's inner Monologue: As I grow older? What does that mean?
Zen continues
"We spoke about you being the vessel, right? I don't quite recall where we stopped."
"Yeah…that's where we stopped"
"I'll explain the purpose now. A long ago, when humanity was thriving, kingdoms prospered. Trades flourished with the dwarves and the elves. Resources were abundant, and for the first time in generations… the world was at peace."
"Until one day crystal-like objects began falling from the sky. No one understood them. And then… terrible things started happening. Almost like a switch had been flipped."
"Terrible things? Like what?" Kuro asks quietly
"I'm getting there. Be patient," Zen replied calmly "As these crystals fell, peace slowly disappeared. Fights sparked across the world. At first, it was small and almost unnoticeable. But over time, it grew more and more severe until wars broke out across the world, and billions lost their lives. Billions."
He inhaled slowly.
"As the chaos continued, people became more and more dangerous. Some absorbed fragments before their energy ran out, some by coincidence, others with intent to gain power. That power only deepened the destruction. We call them fragments now. Fragments of chaos, destruction, and death. Each time one appears, the world takes a hit until total chaos is broken out again. And we still know very little about them."
Kuro looked down, a flicker of anger and frustration in his eyes, his hand clenching into a fist.
"That's…terrible, isn't there a way to stop it? What's causing them?"
Zen takes a slow breath
"Much of the information about them has been erased or lost after the wars and other stuff. But yes… they can be stopped. However, regular humans might struggle to do so."
"What do you mean by 'regular humans'..?"
"During times of great chaos, God chose a warrior to prevent humanity from going extinct. These warriors are known as the Orestes."
Kuro places a hand on his chin.
"That sounds so cool… but where are they now? If fragments are falling?"
Zen unwraps the cloth around his hand.
A triangular symbol rests against his palm.
"I am the Orestes of this millennium. The seventh. I was chosen two years ago."
Kuro stares at the mark.
"Wait, why is it every millennium?"
Zen responds
"Have you ever heard the saying that life and everything around you moves in cycles
Kuro slowly shakes his head
"They say history repeats itself no matter the case. That everything from the past eventually returns. Every thousand years, the fragments fall. Every thousand years, chaos follows."
He hesitated for a second.
"And every thousand years…People return as well…" Zen muttered in a soft voice
His voice remains calm.
"And when the cycle finally ends… perhaps humanity will see an era of true prosperity and peace once more."
He wraps the cloth back around his hand.
"I was chosen because I was strong enough to bear that burden."
Kuro blinks
"Uh-huh… I mean, I know you're strong," he says honestly. "But you don't really look like a warrior. It must be hard with that face of yours, huh?"
Zen lets out the slightest smile. Barely noticeable.
"I suppose you're right, kid. But as I was saying… My duty is to stop the fragments. I've already dealt with some. Six remain."
"So let me get this straight," Kuro says excitedly. "You're traveling around stopping evil fragments and saving the world?! That's… kinda awesome."
Zen's inner monologue: awesome…?He really is just a child..
"Somewhat," Zen answers. "And I'm bringing you along so you can learn to control something that wasn't your choice."
Kuro sharpens his expression
"If you're an Orestes… why did we lie to the guards? Couldn't you have told them the truth?"
Zen's inner monologue: how very perceptive of him, but still immature.
Zen thinks while wrapping the cloth back around his hand
"Very few people know of the Orestes nor about the crystals. It would've been pointless. They weren't checking for an Orestes. I doubt they'd even know what that is. But instead they were checking for forced contracts, devil contracts… or traffickers."
"I have so many questions about what you just said—"
"Calm down. I'm still explaining, we can go over it later as well."
Kuro pouts
Zen continued.
"Traffickers and forced contractors tend to have a magic mark on the back of their hands. That's what the guards look for. As for devil contracts… Those involve trading something of value in exchange for power. The stronger the devil, the greater the sacrifice but not all of them will be able to use the power of strong demons. The mark of a demon wraps around the hand like a bracelet that can't be permanently etched onto your skin."
Kuro grows quiet.
"Is that what I have? My father made a contract… Does that make me one too? A devil contractor.."
"You're a special case," Zen says firmly. "None of those fully apply to you. As long as you learn to control your mana, you should be able to live an ordinary life."
"Right…"
Kuro thinks for a moment.
"That was a lot to take in… So after six years, I can go home? Back to my mother.?"
"If that's what you choose. But traveling with me is dangerous, so be serious about that."
"It's pretty cool you're chosen by God," Kuro says with a small smile. "But that aside you've been nothing but nice to me. My heart and my soul tell me to trust you… so I trust you, Zen."
"That's reassuring. Any other questions?"
"What will you do after we solve the fragment problem?"
"I have someone I have to go back to no matter, I'll explain the rest when the time is right.."
Zen sighed
"Anything else?"
"Two more things… Did you save me because it was your duty? Or because you simply wanted to? And… was my devil contract activated by the fragment.?"
Zen turns slightly toward the window.
"I saved you because it felt right in my heart," he says quietly. "As for the second question…I don't know. It may just have been a coincidence.."
Kuro processing everything.. He thinks.
Kuro's Inner Monologue: After everything I've learned… it feels not as heavy somehow. And… Why does this feel familiar.?
Kuro lowers his gaze to his hand, staring at the faint barely visible marking along his skin. For a brief moment a strange warmth spread beneath it, not painful, not overwhelming just present. His mana shifts out of instinct and something deep within him responds
It isn't a voice but rather a power..?
It feels more like a presence that was never fully formed, something that was interrupted before it could become a whole
Kuro swallows
"So….. "If it was activated," he asked in a quiet tone, "it didn't get a chance to finish?"
If the transfer had been completed, you would not be here right now. Whatever happened during the incident was stopped in its tracks midway."
"I see…" Kuro muttered
He stands up.
"Well, I don't have any more questions."
"We'll reach Oranos's capital in about six days. Let's begin basic training soon."
Zen paused, He looked at Kuro's face for a moment..
Zen's Inner monologue: this must have been quite to take in..
"If you're not ready today, we can start tomorrow."
Kuro's inner monologue: He's more caring after telling me all this, he's worried about me..
"Let's start tomorrow. I want to look around the ship." He said with a smirk on his face walking towards the door
"Don't wander too far."
"I won't!!"
Zen scoffs lightly, watching him leave.
"That boy… is truly something special."
Kuro walks through the halls of the ship, hands in his pockets.
Kuro's inner Monologue: I should probably focus on training… but just for today.
He walks through the luxurious section of the ship, taking his time. Polished floors. Clean walls. Everything is neat and expensive-looking.
He peeks into a few rooms as he passes by, just curious.
After a while, he drifts away from that area and into a quieter, more worn-down section. The lights aren't as bright here. The walls aren't as decorated. More casual. More lived in.
"This ship is massiveee…" he mutters under his breath.
He keeps walking, that's when he spots them.
A family of three.
A mother. A father. A daughter.
They're sitting together, laughing about something small. The girl nudges her dad while her mom shakes her head, smiling
"They're in their own world."
Kuro slows down.
At first, he just watches. A small smile forms on his face.
"That's nice."
A warmth rises in his chest soft at first, Then it tightens.
His smile fades slightly. The laughter keeps going, but it sounds distant now.
A tear gathers at the corner of his eye.
He doesn't even notice it at first.
He doesn't understand why his chest feels like this.
But it falls.
Quietly.
Down his cheek.
He wipes it away quickly, lowering his gaze to the floor.
"I wish my mom was here to see this…"
The words leave him before he can stop them.
He pauses.
"...This feeling…it feels familiar?"
His voice is barely above a whisper.
For a moment, he just stands there, staring at nothing.
Then he exhales softly, shoves his hands into his pockets, and turns his back at them, walking away. He continued to walk for a while not paying much attention to where he was going.
After a while.
"I guess I'll head up to the deck."
After searching for a bit, he finally finds the staircase and starts making his way up. As he climbs. He bumps into someone, stumbling backwards slightly.
"Hey. You."
"Ah I'm sorry.."
Kuro looks up
The red-haired boy from before stands above him on the stairs
"Me?" Kuro asks nervously.
"Yes, you," the boy says, pointing directly at him. "I heard you wanted to join the Magic Academy."
Kuro freezes. His stomach tightens.
Kuro's inner monologue: someone actually heard that? And of all people…him?
Chapter End.
[Extra Information]
Level up! Fragments Information unlocked.
{Progress 0/6}
Basic Information: Fragments are crystal like objects which cause chaos and destruction wherever they go. Humans can absorb these fragments but the evil within the crystals will taint them and cause them to go berserk or… {Locked}
Devil Contracts: You make a deal with the devil for power, you exchange something that the devil finds valid. {More Information to be unlocked soon..}