[Plot] The Fated Journey [Completed]

[Akimoto]

Haru's hands trembled as he opened his Dad's Diary. He wondered why it was with a Desert Vulcan. It was obvious to him that the Vulcan must have raided his hideout when he wasn't there because there is just no way his Dad, a S-Class Mage, would lose to one. I may finally know what kept them away from me all these years. Some parts of the Diary were eroded. He turned to see the first page.

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Most of the text were incomprehensible. Only a line or two really made sense in every page. Haru took a notebook and started jotting down every word that was comprehensible in the Diary. He moved on to the next page.

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This happened a month before my 9th birthday. They were searching for someone. Someone who was more important to them than me. Haru couldn't take it. What could be more important to his parents than their son? He gritted his teeth in anger, tears rolling down his cheeks. Somehow he knew reading this will only make him more frustrated, but he couldn't keep himself away from it. In any case, I'll head to the Sleeping Forest. Whatever happened to them, happened there.

[Akimoto]

Haru packed his things and went to meet the Master to inform him of his absence. But he was nowhere to be found. Probably he is on a mission. I'll leave a message. He tore a piece of paper and wrote the message.

I’ll be gone for a while. I’M NOT LEAVING THE GUILD. I just have no idea how long it’ll take. I also wanted to thank you for letting me stay in the guild. And when I’m back there better be B-Ranked missions on this board or I’m pulverizing it.

Hatsuharu Akimoto

Haru folded the paper and kept it on the Master’s table before leaving. He boarded the train to Onibas and decided to read the rest of the Diary while in train. He opened the Diary and started from where he left. As the pages moved forward, lesser words were comprehensible.

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And it went on. Pages after pages, the couple had been searching throughout the Sleeping Forest but never found what they were searching for. Their deadline was about to reach and on the last day of the month they had planned to leave for their home and never resume the search.

[Akimoto]

Haru flipped through the pages and made notes from all of them. At last, he reached the final entry. It seemed like the final entry was written in a hurry and so there were even less sentences that made sense. Haru carefully read them and wrote it down on the paper.

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Though he got the sentence patterns, Haru still couldn’t get whom they were searching for. He didn’t lose hope though. He would ask the Onibas people if they know anything about the Scythe Tail. That is the only clue he has right now. The train reached Onibas station and Haru got down. The station wasn’t very impressive. There were quite a few people but it didn’t look very busy. Haru decided to get into the town and then start his investigation.

Haru quickly walked to the town and went into a restaurant. Restaurants are the best place to inquire. Moreover, I’m starving. He took a seat and a cute waitress approached to take his order. I’ll have Ramen, he said with a broad smile. The waitress bowed and left to get his order.

[Akimoto]

Haru looked around the restaurant to see if there were anyone whom he could ask about the Scythe Tail. Only a very few customers were there, so he didn't have much choice. Two tables behind him sat an old lady. Old people know the most. He walked to the old lady's table and smiled at her. Can I sit? he asked when she smiled back. The lady nodded and he sat opposite to her.

I'm new here. I just want some information. Do you know what a Scythe Tail is? he asked politely. The old lady dropped the spoon she had in her hand and screamed out loud. The next moment, everyone in the restaurant and even a few from the streets gathered around the table. What happened? echoed the crowd. This boy... He talks evil. Throw him out, the lady said, her voice still shaking. Haru was frozen. He totally didn't understand what was going on. Uh... Excuse me? said the waitress and swam through the crowd to get closer to the table. The old lady called her closer and whispered something into her ears. The waitress gave a similar reaction. Something told Haru that he had to run.

The waitress quickly got hold of Haru's hands and dragged him out of the restaurant. Haru didn't resist. He too wanted to get out of the scene. What the hell is going on? he asked once they were a few buildings away from the restaurant. Don't ask the question you asked her to anyone else here. You wouldn't leave the town alive, she said before starting to walk away. Wait! Please listen to me. Haru caught hold of the waitress' hand. I have to know what that means. You don't know how desperate I am. Haru looked into her eyes sharply, hoping that it would let her know how truthful he is.

[Akimoto]

The girl looked at him for few seconds before sighing softly. Alright! Tell me why you wanna know. Haru felt happy that she gave him a chance to explain. Around two years back my mom and dad were in the Sleeping Forest searching for someone. I happened to stumble upon his Diary and he had mentioned the Scythe Tail in it. They never came back after this mission and this is the only lead I have. So, please... As Haru explained, the girl's face went pale.

Are you... Hatsu... Haru? the girl asked, her eyes filled with tears. Haru was stunned. How do you know my name? he asked with a confused expression. The girl brushed off the tears from her cheeks and asked Haru to follow her. He didn't have an option here. He followed the girl as she swiftly moved around the streets and lead him outside the town. After walking for few minutes, Haru noticed the cemetery. This didn't go well into Haru's head. Where are you taking me? he asked the girl flatly. Without replying, she entered the cemetery.

He didn't wanna follow her now. For some reason, he knew what he was going to see. The girl walked straight towards the large tombstone at the center. Haru hesitantly followed. Haru's head felt heavy as the letters on the tombstone became legible. He fell down on his knees crying out loud, for the tombstone read,

Here rests, Kazunari and Ayumu Akimoto who still lives in our hearts.

[Akimoto]

The girl knelt beside and squeezed his shoulders trying to convince him. But it was of no use. His sadness slowly transformed into rage. He looked up at the tombstone and grit his teeth. How did it happen? he asked the girl. The girl didn't reply and Haru got mad. He turned around and gave her a glare, that seemed to frighten her to such an extent that she instantly took her hands away from him and crawled back few feet. TELL ME HOW THEY DIED, he shouted. She gulped the air and started to explain.

It happened an year back. A Black Dragon ravaged our village to shreds. It all happened so fast that we didn't even have time to evacuate, let alone defend ourselves. Many people including women and children died. It was terrifying. When everyone had lost hope, your parents arrived. Your Mom saved the civilians and evacuated them to a safe place, while your Dad kept the Dragon engaged. As the girl explained, Haru stared at the tombstone but listened carefully to every word.

When the girl stopped to see if he was listening, Haru's eyebrows raised sharply and the girl stammered on. Uh... So, when everyone were evacuated from the village, your mom came back to join your dad to fight the Dragon. I was lost in the village. So, I hid myself and watched the whole thing. Your parents fought bravely. They were devastatingly powerful but still it wasn't enough to defeat the Dragon. They died forcing it out of the village.

[Akimoto]

A Dragon killed them? They were the best in their guild. No... Wait. It could be right to say that they are one of the top mages in whole of Fiore. And they fought the Dragon together and still couldn't defeat it? Haru was even more frustrated. He stood up and asked, And what's with the Scythe Tail? The girl stood up too and moved a bit closer to Haru. The Black Dragon's tail is known as the Scythe Tail. It is shaped like a Scythe and is so sharp that it could slice up a building in half. Most of our townsmen were sliced up by the Dragon using its tail. That is why the word is Taboo here. People fear it for they have seen its wrath. When the fight was over, the whole town was just a barren land. It took us an year just to rebuild the major buildings.

Haru still didn't understand the whole thing. Moreover, he felt dizzy and everything around him started to dissolve. He caught on to his head and fell down unconscious. It seems the news was too sudden for him to digest.

Haru woke up and found himself inside a dim-lit room. The girl was sitting on the chair beside and had fallen asleep over the table. Looking out from the nearby window, Haru realized it was very late in the night. He wanted to thank the girl for the information and hospitality, but he had no time. He has a new target now. No matter what, I will slay that Dragon. He got out of the bed and walked to the door. Where are you going? The girl had awoken. I'm going to find that Dragon and get my revenge.

[Akimoto]

The girl seemed to understand Haru's feelings somehow. She didn't object his goal but gave him a sensible advice. You might be a mage but you don't even look like you have 1% of the power your parents had individually, no offense. Do you think you could defeat that Dragon when those two couldn't? This made Haru think. She was right. If Haru engages with the Dragon with his current powers, he will be thrashed like an insect. He had to develop his skills and become so powerful that he exceeds the combined power of his parents. But, is that practically possible?

Are you having second thoughts about getting your revenge? Definitely No! Even if I'm going to die, I'll die fighting that Dragon. I just wanna make sure I'm not throwing my life away just like that. You were right. Right now, I don't have the power to defeat it. It is foolishness to go after it now. But... The girl quickly grabbed the table drawer and pulled it open. She took an old Diary out of it and gave it to Haru. Your Mom had the habit of writing Diary too. She believed that you'd search them and eventually end up here. So, she requested me to give this to you before she died. Haru got the Diary and ran his fingers slowly on the linen cover. Tear droplets fell on the Diary.

Don't cry. Your parents wouldn't want to see you like that. I didn't wanna read it, but the curiosity got the better of me. Almost every page in that Diary has your name. They loved you and missed you more than you missed them. But it was all for the good of human kind. Read it and you'll know your parents and the way to defeat the Dark Dragon.

[Akimoto]

Haru decided to stay back and read his Mom's Diary. It's just like she said. At least half of every entry is about me. Within few pages, he came across an entry similar to the one he saw in his Dad's. So, it was gigantic snakes that hurt mom. He moved on and finally it was the entry that he waited for. The day before his 9th birthday. The day they decided to come back home, but for some reason, never did.

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Haru still didn't understand. If they spotted the Dragon on that day itself, why wait an year to strike. Before jumping to conclusions, he decided to read on to know what really happened.

[/color][/b] the Dragon said...[/color][/size][/font][/ul]

[Akimoto]

[/color][/b] Kazu said. The Dragon looked at them disapprovingly. Why should I? Get outta here. The Dark Dragon destroyed half of the towns in Fiore and you look like one. We demand an explanation. The conversation heated up and the Dragon's roar filled the whole Den with Darkness. I told you to get out. I don't like hurting humans. Don't make me. Kazu got really mad and jumped in to attack. But I stopped him. Listen! We just want to know where Dark Dragon is. I promise we won't come back after that. For some reason I was convinced that he wasn't the Dragon we were looking for.

The Dragon relaxed and looked at me keenly. I'm the Shadow Dragon, Father of the Dark Dragon. I've been looking for him myself. To discipline him. He will come here one day and I shall take care of him myself. Now, Leave! We had no option there. We were about to leave. But before leaving, Kazu said something that stunned both the Dragon and me. If you are so sure he will come here, then we shall wait in the forest for him. The Dragon shook its head and replied. You people aren't strong enough to take him on. I dunno if I myself am. Don't throw your lives away. Young people shouldn't poke their nose into these issues. Both of us looked at him and he understood what we were thinking.[/size][/font][/color][/ul]

[Akimoto]

So, they were after the Dark Dragon but ended up with the Shadow Dragon? But why would they wait there until he comes? The Shadow Dragon said he'll take care of him right? Haru still didn't understand why his parents were so determined to fight the Dark Dragon. He continued to read the entry.

[/b][/color] The Dragon wasn't convinced no matter how much we persuaded. You aren't sure you are strong enough for it yourself. Why not let us help then? Teach us the way and we can fight him together. But the Dragon insisted on us to leave. We left the den, but not the Dragon's sight. We moved our camp very near to the Den and the Dragon didn't like it.

---

The Dragon didn't seem to bother about us at all today...
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Haru flipped through a few pages and all it had was how the Dragon totally ignored the presence of his parents. He stopped when he crossed a larger entry.

[/b][/color] We didn't. Both of us were Dark Magic users. No! Darkness. The Dragon wasn't pleased. Shadow and Darkness are closely related, but still it is different. I shall teach you, but you wont be fluent with my magic. When the time comes, I will fight him and you both can support me. Both of us felt really happy and moved to his Den.

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[Akimoto]

Haru excitedly turned to the next page to see how one was trained to be a Dragon Slayer, but there was nothing at all. That was the last entry. Damn! Why would she stop writing her Diary? Haru couldn't wait. He knew where the Dragon was now and he had to go there. The Sun has risen and Haru decided to start his journey. But he was too sleepy and tired because he was up all night. The girl told him to rest and start in the evening.

After a good long rest, Haru went out to fill his food supplies and got ready to enter the Sleeping Forest. Thanks for everything. Bye... What's your name? The girl giggled and replied. Natsumi Niigaki. I'm glad you came and good luck with your journey. Haru nodded in reply and started his next search.

It was evening by the time he reached the Sleeping Forest's entrance. It was difficult for him to follow the instructions given in the Diary as it was too dark. But he did his best. He avoided encountering most of the creatures, but he had to fight some. And finally he was on the canyon, right above the den. There was a shambled tent there. He knew whose it was. Uncovering the tent, he realized that it was salvaged by something. There was nothing there that he could take as a keepsake. He decided to enter the Den. It was too steep for anyone to walk. Haru used his Liquid Shadow and integrated back right in the center of the den.

[Akimoto]

Finally! What took you so long? Was it difficult even with the Diary? a voice echoed inside the den. Haru knew who it was. In anger, he shouted with all his might. You coward. After all the speech you gave, you didn't have the guts to go face your son in battle, did you? So, you sent my parents knowing they didn't stand a chance. The Shadows in the Den converged and the Dragon took form. I see. So, Ayumu stopped writing her Diary after I took her in, eh? Yes! You are right. I knew they didn't stand a chance. That is why I asked them to stay with me. But they wouldn't listen. They couldn't see the town getting destroyed right in front of their eyes.

Haru's anger settled down as confusion crept in. But didn't you plan on fighting him yourself, along with them? Why didn't you go then? The Dragon sighed. Dark smoke flushed out of its nostrils. I was trapped here. It seems the Dark Dragon is being manipulated by someone. Someone so powerful that he could keep him under an illusion. Somehow, he knew my hiding place and knew that I could deactivate Illusions. So, he used Rune magic to keep me trapped here and we never noticed. When my son came here, we were ready but I couldn't leave the den. It was tragic, after all the training I gave them. They left to fight him without me, knowing they'd die. They gave their life for the people. And they told me, you'll come.

Finally everything came clear to Haru. Though he was proud of his parents, he was also pissed that he never had and will never get the parental affection. So... Is it true, that you are affiliated with the Shadows? the Dragon asked. Haru nodded. Then, I shall teach you the Shadow Dragon's Magic for you are the only one who can master it. Haru wanted to know if his parents learned it. So, did you teach them too? Oh, yes I did! But they never mastered it. That is why it lies in your hands now. You have to do this yourself, because the Runes' rules are absolute and doesn't let me near my Son forever...

[Akimoto]

If it is my parent's will, then I shall accept it. I will fight the Dark Dragon and his controller both for my parents and you. Haru decided to think of the Shadow Dragon as his God Father and carry on the wish of his parents. He bowed to the Dragon and the Shadow Dragon caught him with its tail and made him sit on its neck where the scales were relatively soft. We are going to a different place to start your training. And you can call me Darui!

In the middle of the night, Darui made himself and Haru camouflage with the night's darkness and flew above the clouds. They reached a large mountainous region and Darui lead him to another Den. This was very big compared to the previous one and even darker. Haru couldn't see anything at all. It's so Dark. I can't see anything. Don't reject the Darkness. You are going to thrive in it for the next few years. Haru smirked and followed by touching the Dragon's tail. Careful there. I might accidentally slice you... And the training started.

---

Eight years had passed since Haru started his training and now he could see every corner in the Den clearly even in the pitch black darkness. Haru! It is time. Go and call the me within you when it is time. Remember that, the intensity of Darkness in your Magic isn't what determines who you are. It is the Darkness in your Heart. Steer the Shadows away from your Heart and you'll never be manipulated. Now, Good Bye! Haru's knelt to Darui and bowed so low that his head touched the ground. Thank you! For everything... And he left the Den with great determination. I will find him and save him from the Illusion.

~Exits~