Chapter 5: A Legend

“I shall tell you a story about Kohryu Hiroyuki, when he first started off as a young Elementalist,” the Oracle began. “Long ago, a young Elementalist who was rash and bold and didn’t fear anything undertook a spiritual journey across the landscape, communicating with the Deities and Oracles and mastering their Elements. He mastered them all with ease when he was only twelve years old, and he would become revered throughout the country for his prodigious knowledge and deeds.”

Satoshi stared in awe. Here was a person that knew his Father! He hadn’t expected this tale to come up in conversation, though hearing anything about his father made his heart swell with love. He wanted to hear as much as he could about the legendary Elementalist that happened to be his father.

“Tell me more,” Satoshi said while inclining his head in a bow. “Please.”

The Oracle took a sip of a deep rich red wine, before planting it on the table. The liquid swirled in the glass.

“He started to mend the rift between Youkai and humans…showing that they can get along together. I suspect that your young pup there is actually a Wolf Youkai, is she not? No need to fear, she is welcome here, for Kohryu taught that Youkai are creatures to be respected and revered like the Deities themselves. Kohaku, was it? Very well, if I may speak to Kohaku directly?”

Satoshi nodded, and Kohaku rematerialized into her half human, half-animal form, petting her tail in the meantime.

“Oracle, it’s been a while.”

“I see that you still have some attachment to Kohryu Hiroyuki, I see,” the elder said with a smile, and Kohaku started to get flustered.

“Who said that I, the great goddess Kohaku, was in love with a mere fallible man like Kohryu Hiroyuki? Though he may be known across the continent as the greatest Elementalist that ever lived, someone like that was a mere pretty boy that liked to play with ladies’ hearts, no matter whether they were Oracle, Deity, or Youkai. Indeed, he would just flirt with them as long as they were pretty. A Wolf doesn’t want to bother herself with such an unfaithful mate.”

“I see, yes, young Kohryu did have a taste for beautiful women, that may have been one of his vices…”

“Young Satoshi here,” Kohaku gestured to Satoshi. “Is far more innocent than Kohryu ever was.”

Satoshi blinked.

“My father was a pervert?”

“Indeed,” Kohaku said with a huff. “People make him out to be this dignified and noble Elementalist, but he was just like any lecherous man. He would seduce and make young woman come flocking to him like delicate birds coming to feed on birdseed from his palms…”

Satohsi felt his stomach twist at that. Did that mean his father never loved his mother? His beloved mother, who did everything for him, sacrificing her status and nobility for his life, and only spoke truly and highly of his father? Suddenly the grand majestic figure that Satoshi conjured in his imagination about his father when he was a young boy started to crumble. He wasn’t perfect like he always thought he was, and this disillusionment unsettled Satoshi. He wanted to remember his father as the great man who did great deeds across the continents, not as some womanizing sleaze that slept with various different women across the continents.

Kohaku noticed Satoshi’s unease, and she put a hand on his shoulder while wagging her tail.

“Young man, you should be proud to be you father’s ilk. Though he may have flirted and played with the hearts of many young women, he also was a devoted husband to just one. A special girl that he truly and only loved, and she was the only person that he would settle down with. That person was you mother.”

“You speak truly, Kohaku?” Satoshi said with widened eyes, and Kohaku nodded.

“He was a great man. Though you have to understand that all humans like you have your foibles and exploits. I, as a Wolf Deity, am an icon of perfection, but there’s no need to measure you humans by my standards. That would drive anyone into a depression, surely.”

“I see,” Satoshi said with a small laugh, before saying, “Well, I guess it’s also to know that my father was someone…well…human. I used to think of him as this perfect person who had so many great achievements that I couldn’t possibly measure up to him.”

“Yes,” the Oracle said while stroking his beard. “Kohryu was indeed a great man, though I see the makings of a fine young man in you, young Satoshi. Though Kohryu hadn’t returned to unfreeze the Flame Deity, I’m sure that you can go to a mysterious island where the red moon always looks overhead. It will be a dangerous trip, but I have faith that you can bring back the red moon’s special anti-magic properties to help unfreeze the Flame Deity? Perhaps the Flame Deity will be able to tell you how to mend your curse, or the secrets of high tier flame magic that the Flame Deity can only bestow upon the worthy.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“My father traveled across the continents and received each Deities’ blessing as an Elementalist, did he?”

“That is correct, young man.”

“What else did he do? What was he like as a person? Besides…being a bit of a flirt and all that.”

“The Elder laughed, before putting a hand on Satoshi’s head to comfort him. “He was a fine young man. He enjoyed this world and lived it to the fullest. I’m not sure where he disappeared, though I think it’s about time that his legacy be passed onto you, my young Satoshi. Write a new chapter in the tales that he left behind across the continent, and spread good deeds as a young Elementalist. Because a master of all the Elements.”

“I will try,” Satoshi said with a smile.

The Oracle smiled, before saying, “I will tell you the location to travel to the island where there’s magical anti-magic properties coming from the moonlight. It truly is a treacherous journey, though I know that you will be able to make it through, young Satoshi. I think that you have the makings of being a great Elementalist inside you. It also could possibly be a cure for your curse. Who knows?”

“Hm, I think that this trip would most certainly benefit me in many ways,” Satoshi said. “I’ll do it.”

“Very good, young master,” The Oracle said with a bow. “I suggest that you go to a town that is not too far from here. Whether or not you will find someone willing to take you there, however, is another story. I’m sorry I cannot provide the funds for you to get a good sailor, but I’m sure that you’ll find a way. Farewell, young Satoshi—and I hope that we encounter one another again one day.”

“Farewell, Flame Oracle,” Saotshi said, before he stepped out of the manor and with Kohaku, rode on her back to the town that the elder suggested. However, as Satoshi asked around, the various people that he tried to get to sail him to the mysterious island refused him.After Satoshi asked the last person, who chewed him out for having no money to give him in the first place, then said that only fools would ask to go to that island. Satoshi sat down on a crate, wondering what he should do.

“I don’t have sufficient funds for a sailor,” Satoshi said, before a man with mysterious pale skin, white glimmering hair, and colorless eyes appraoched him. Kohaku looked wary around him, though the man seemed friendly enough.

“I’ve noticed that you’ve been asking around to take you to an island. What ever comepls you to make that journey, boy?”

“To defrost the Flame Deity,” Satoshi said, and the man put a hand to his chin and contemplated Satoshi’s words.

“A bold move for a young boy,” the man said. “Defrosting the Flame Deity…it’s not just the Flame Deity that you have to fix, boy.”

Satoshi looked up curiously. He noted how strange the other man appeared with his colorlessness, though didn’t mention anything about it.

“The world is changing,” the man said. “The various Deities have been afflicted with various magical phenomena. The Flame Deity being one of the unfortunate victims in this world’s changing landscape. But perhaps…maybe there will be no need for Deities anymore?”

“No need for Deities?” Satoshi said in despair. “But that’s unthinkable. We’ve always relied on the gods and magic to sustain us through dark times.”

“Indeed, boy,” the man said. “Though humanity will take whatever power it can and become corrupted from it. My name is Suitengu, a traveling scholar. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, young Satoshi Hiroyuki.”

“You heard about me?” Satoshi said, before Suitengu chuckled in amusement.

“I’m a storyteller, and I hear various lores and tales throughout the countries that are whispered among the continents,” Suitengu said with a mysterious smile. “Young Satoshi Hiroyuki, son of Kohryu Hiroyuki, cursed by an aragami! What a story! A cursed Elementalist! It sets my blood astir with imagination! Though young man, I also will have you know, I also am an Elementalist, just like you are.”

“Then…will you help me on this journey?”

Suitengu closed his eyes, before turning his back on Satoshi. “You heart is set on the island, boy? I can perhaps provide you the funds, of course, though there is something else that I wish to have in return.”

Satoshi blinked.

“What is it?”

“I will tell you later when you’ve completed your journey,” Suitengu said with a smile, before patting Satoshi on the head. “You at first need to find the various Deities and receive their blessings, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Satoshi said, before bowing his head to the man. “Please help me, Suitengu. I need as many allies as I can, and I know that a man isn’t great by himself, but through the efforts and talents of others. Your knowledge will be most helpful for helping me traverse the world, I’m sure.”

“Do you know why the island is shunned and reviled, boy?” Suitengu said, and Satoshi shook his head. “It’s because there are Youkai prowling there, boy. In this day and age, the Youkai have retreated to an isolated island to keep away from humans, where they could live in peace.”

“We still need to go there,” Satoshi said with finality. “If I can have you assistance, then I will truly be in your debt. If you could convince one sailor to take us to the island, then I will be grateful.”

“Hm,” Suitengu said with a thoughtful expression on his face. “Let me consider it for a while. For now I will gather information on this town and learn about its history. A scholar must constantly record and write about the daily happenings and goings of each place that he visits. Farewell, young Satoshi. Meet me at the Inn. I will reserve you a room there where we can discuss things further. That’s the least that I can do for you.”

Satoshi bowd his head. “Thank you so much, Sir Suitengu. I promise that I will pay you back.”

“Oho, I’ll see that you’ll hold to your promise then, boy,” Suitengu said. “Though promises aren’t to be made lightly…but you are a truly kind hearted boy. Well, I better be going.”

With that, Suitengu left. Satoshi idly scratched Kohaku behind her head, and Kohaku looked up to him with her great amber eyes. When she keened a little, Satoshi turned his attention to her.

“What is it, Kohaku?”

“That man has no scent,” Kohaku remarked. “I can’t judge his character. He seems friendly enough, though I wonder what his true intentions are. You better be careful, Satoshi.”

“I will,” Satoshi said. “Though I do need his help if I want to reach the island to unfreeze the Flame Deity.”

“I will accompany you there,” Kohaku said, and Satoshi smiled at her.

“You’re truly a loyal companion, Kohaku. I’m glad that I’m friends with you.”

“As I said, you have strange notions of friends, boy.”

Yet Kohaku looked pleased at that statement and held her head high