REBIRTH OF DESTINY: BOOK II

ACT I:

BY DESTINY

Chapter 1: The Nihon Way

The door to their home door, blistered and abused by incessant gusts of wind, slammed helplessly; repetitively. Rajul and Raima’s old shack stood as I remembered it, only a bit colder. It was as abandoned as the rest of the fishing village. The reservoir was just the same. Dry and lifeless soil rushed through my fingers. Gone were the fish and fishermen.

I told myself it was because of the dry season. “The fishermen will be back once it rains again.”

But the crescent moon burnt in the sand, where water once covered, told a different story. It was the same grim mark charred on Rajul’s chest and the shape of my irises; the mark of the Damnation rune.

What I’d give to be done with it!

I proved everyone wrong when I destroyed that evil rune and for a time I let myself believe it was over. A destiny, my future as Damnation’s omnipotent, unwilling vessel, was foreseen hundreds of years ago. But I changed it with my own hands.

Was it a permanent change or had I just bought myself some time?

Damnation was a rune like all others; a rune that I can recreate, whether I wanted to or not. Just like how I did in the shack that night. Just thinking about how close that rune came to taking me then, in my sleep...

But as fortune would have it, that night Damnation came for old man Rajul instead.

Old man, if you knew what you were holding....

Part of me wished you weren’t there when I brought Damnation to existence. Then, the other part of me needed to thank you, because if you weren’t there that night....

That was the reason why I came looking for your grave, tucked away on a quiet little hill overlooking the reservoir where you used to fish; where you fished me out of. If your name wasn’t carved on a stone, I probably wouldn’t have known this was your final resting place.

Your name wasn’t alone.

Rest in peace. Together forever. Rajul + Raima.

Oh no! How...when did she die? My thoughts were livid with a bunch of possibilities. They all caused my eyes to water. I brushed them away before they caused a stir.

Rajul. Raima. I won’t let their deaths be for nothing. I can’t.

I am going to rid myself of that chaotic rune so the world may rest in peace. So I can rest in peace.

Then maybe I could go back to living a normal life without wondering who’s out to kill me..again.

Another gust of wind carried sun dried leaves sending them spiraling helplessly along the way. The wind was a master at carrying a lot of things, sounds, smells. I wondered if the person that’s been following me realized that.

My name is Aiden. The power of 22 magical runes are at my command. But of all the runes in my veins, there’s just one I could do without.

There was an official from the Ahrman Empire that oversaw the fishing village for a time. He also became Damnation’s runebearer. I wondered what happened to him as I rode the wind to his mansion on the cliff. The place was as lifeless and cold as the village it shadowed.

His study was still loaded with literature; that and months worth of dust. I had my sights on one book in particular when the title of another caught my eye.

Purging Your Soul: The Nihon Way.

***

Ishikawa, Nihon

A couple of rain shafts appear suspended in the distance, returning a good helping of water to the vast ocean. Glimpses of the setting sun parted the clouds briefly, holding my attention longer than intended.

Did Nihon always have such captivating moments in time during sunsets? I suppose I wasn’t on the island long enough the last time I was here to notice.

Or care.

“Young Aiden?” came a familiar voice, grabbing my attention. It was Yamato himself, to my surprise. And he was looking as pensive as ever. “Shall we be on our way?”

“I thought you were sending a guide.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“It’s better that I show you. I owe it to you.”

“If you insist, sir Yamato. Since you’re here..” I began, stepping aside. “I’ll introduce you to Jaff; my father’s brother.”

To be honest I had no idea how Jaff would react to meeting Yamato, the man that sentenced his brother to death. Jaff was rather quiet about it, which was unusual. So, I kinda expect Jaff to display some level of resentment toward Yamato.

He didn’t.

After a brief greeting, the three of us were on our way.

As much as I hate being a bearer of nearly two dozen runes, using one of them to light up the night was always handy. Little night flyers also illuminated the path, but I outshined them all. I wasn’t going to be outdone by spark-in-the-dark bugs.

Seeing those little buggers reminded me of the days when I would run and catch them just to feel their tiny wings tickle my palms. I had to resist the boyish urge to chase one now. Off the trodden path and tucked behind tall grass, this wasn’t the place for such childish antics.

It was the place my father was laid to rest.

Yamato stopped before a small mound in the middle of a terse clearing. There was no gravestone or any other signs of a final resting place. By the looks of the plot my father was buried and intended to be forgotten.

I tried hard not to show how put off I was by that.

“We are prepared to return his remains to his homeland, should you request it,” said Yamato.

Come to think of it, I don’t ever recall him calling my father by name. I shook my head. “I’d rather not disturb him.”

“Neither would I,” Jaff agreed. “It was important for us both to know where Malik was buried. We’ll leave it at that.”

Yamato turned to leave. “I understand. I shall wait for you at the castle to discuss the other matter, young Aiden.”

As soon as he was beyond earshot Jaff asked, “What other matter?”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of the spot. “Jaff, do you think father would want me dead too?”

“No, I’m sure he wouldn’t. He was so looking forward to your birth; he was beside himself.”

“Yeah but, that was before he found out what my birth meant.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered to him,” Jaff continued, passionately. “I know Malik. He would have stood next to you when you challenged Damnation and would have been extremely proud when you finally destroyed it.”

“I can make another one, too. Another Damnation rune.”

And then he was quiet. A moment or two passed before he asked, “Do you know that for sure?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I sulked.

“I noticed that your eyes were back to a crescent. Hmm. Is that why you’ve been sleep walking lately? Because of that rune?”

Sleep walking; not something I could remember doing before, but lately Jaff said he found me walking in a daze near the end of Khalm at least once a week. I still don’t know how I got there or why. “Who knows? Maybe it’s Damnation trying to control me in my sleep?”

“I..just didn’t want to believe it to be true. I certainly don’t want to go through that whole mess again.”

“That’s why I came back to speak with Yamato. I read that there’s a certain ritual people do here to cleanse their soul of evil spirits. I want to know more about it and see if it will work for me.”

“I see. I hope he has good news for us.”

Even without having much information about said ritual, I was confident it would work.

It had to.

It started coming down before Jaff and I made it back to civilization. Warping would have saved us some time and dry clothes, but I figured popping back to Yamato’s castle would be disrespectful. Besides, racing through the rain was fun. Quinn and I used to do it almost all the time.

I missed those days.

We eventually made it to the castle’s steps where a lightly armored guard was waiting for us with an apology. Apparently Yamato had left in a hurry to deal with “affairs of the state” and he wasn’t expected to return for a few days. “Sir Yamato would be honored if you would extend your visit until he returned,” said the guard.

“No problem,” I replied, careful not to express my disappointment.

“Follow me to your guest quarters,” the guard said.

Two flights of stairs and four and a half long hallways later, we were there. The room was spacious and generously furnished. There was a single, sad divider separating my room from Jaff’s relentless snoring.

Oh well.

Atleast there was an unobstructed view of a well kept garden below. And a man I’d recognize anywhere, even from behind; Matsuo, one of Yamato’s crew. Out of curiosity, I watched him stroll through the garden along a brick path, stopping only to flip over a leaf or three. I wondered what he was looking for.

“Aiden?” called Jaff, but I was more interested in watching Matsuo to respond. There was something different about the man. It was like he was encompassed by a dim aura; a familiar kind of aura.

Matsuo rounded the corner, leaving me with a peculiar thought. Is Matsuo a rune bearer now? He is one of Yamato’s bodyguards; he should have one.

“What’s so fascinating outside that you ignore your dear uncle?” Jaff asked, approaching the balcony.

“I saw someone I recognized, that’s all.”

“Funny how both you and your father ended up here,” Jaff said, turning his back on the garden and leaning against the balcony.

Sounded like something was on his mind. “Well, unlike him I don’t plan on getting too comfortable here.”

“Do you think they’ve executed Zaki by now?”

Zaki. That was the last name I needed or wanted in my ears right now. Half brother or whole, I wouldn’t shed a tear over his much deserved beheading. Not just because of his sadistic ways, with or without the Damnation rune’s influence, but because I couldn’t beat him.

“I sure hope so,” I said and I meant it.

“I hate to hear you say that about your brother.”

Now you’re getting on my nerves, Jaff. “Half brother, and a cold blooded murderer that tried to sacrifice me to Damnation.”

“I know, you’re right,” Jaff paused. Must be sorry he brought Zaki up. He ought to be. “Let’s get some sleep, shall we?”

“I’m going for a walk.”

“Do you want some company?”

“No,” I replied as I was instantly carried away by the power of the warp rune.