The Storm
"Tonight… I'll make you speak the truth."
stands facing his bedroom window waiting for Lania's arrival. It is the night that he will be facing his grandfather for the first time in his life. Uncovers the truth behind the unknown reality that he is living with.
Suffered with pain since he knows so much yet he still did not fully the veracity even though it is not his responsibility for speak. He ensemble the suit that he takes from the academy, a black themed suit with black under shirt.
Carries a backpack full with survival kit with a convertible sword-rifle strapped on the side of bag. A revolver belted in his back. Ties a scarf in his neck to warm him. He stands in front of a window; a sight of night skies can be seen.
He sees his reflection on the giant window. Seeing a blinking red and white light on the skies, he turns his lights of and leave the room. Loud sounds engine coming from the dark skies as a sign Lania has just arrived flying her helicopter.
Takaya jumps to the roof where the helicopter lands, meeting Lania on top.
"Showing your new suit to your beloved grandpa I see…"
"Zip it, Lania."
He embarks the helicopter, put his harness on.
"Where is the rest?"
"The commander takes the rest, she's tasked to eliminate chaosits stampede that happened on Eutopia City."
"Then we better get going now, we don't have much time."
"Roger."
Different attitude, different tone…
He is different from many ways…
—Fukasawa Household, 11 PM
Coming home late after a medical examination. Asahi regularly takes once a week.
She entered her house,
"Welcome home, Sis!"
Immediately get a warm greeting from her little sister.
"Huaaah, I'm full… Tired…" Asahi sighed and heavily drop herself to the couch.
"Ah my sister becomes a grandma now." Belania teased on her.
"What the heck was that? For someone who waking me up middl night of for pee-"
"AAAAAAA!!! keep it quiet will you…" Blushed by her sister;s counter— "By the way, how is he? Today is his first day, right?"
"Ah, yeah! You know, He is changed so much! He even can stand against me!"
self-praising herself,
"On what exactly?"
"Fight of course! He even can transform into his astral armor state!"
"He transformed?! What did you do to him?"
Belania anxiously asked.
"Kick him as strong as I can!" She smiled.
Belania sighed deeply knowing her sister's behavior.
"You surely weird, no wonder you don't have a boyfriend."
"No, no, my dear sister. That stuff isn't for me right now."
He smug faces irritate her little sister,
"Hahaha, just wondering you and him datin-"
"No can do! Look, even though I'm not blood related to this family, it doesn't mean I can have some relationship like that."
"Even though you want it?"
"Even if I want it, I will consider it if he makes the first move." She smiled and pinched Belania right cheek.
"Haha! You're bad liar, sis." Belania teased her more,
"But as your sister I'll shall support you no matter what you desire."
"You litt-"
"Asahi! come over here quickly please?? I have something to ask."
Suddenly a woman voice— her mother was calling from a different room,
"Ah shoot, forgot about my report today, well then I'll be going, see you in bedroom, sis."
Asahi rushed to her mother, and her sister waving her hand to her. Leaving a smile to her sister face.
"Mom? She dashed to her office,
Seeing her mother was standing anxiously,
"I just got a call from Lania, Takaya is now on the Eastern Base."
"Wha-"
"He visited by his own will. Do you know about it?" Bella asked.
"No, I was taking my examination today, and I didn't see him again after your speech." She said while grabbing her shirt, "Is he okay?"
"Luckily nothing happened, but… I didn't expect he will go faster than I anticipate…"
"Lania said he want to see his grandfather for a reason, but suddenly the base is under attacked by unknown-"
"I'll be going!"
Asahi is about to go, but her mother raised her hand,
"It's too late, situation already under control, more importantly the attacker is just a person." Bella said while grabs her daughter hand, "
"One person? what kind of person would attack him? That is a remote place where no one's even me can enter freely!"
Bella shows her phone screen
"Look… Somehow, I feel like I know that person…"
"…th-that is…"
Suddenly her breath became so heavy.
Asahi suddenly fell, she looks limp like she was very exhausted,
"Asahi?! Belania! Help me!"
Asahi's hearing begins to fade so as her consciousness.
Her vision darkens,
"Ta… ka…ya…"
***
—X.A.G Eastern Main Military Base – City of Ruins, 11.15 PM
Takaya arrived at the X.A.G Eastern Main Military Base, the place that his grandfather stayed all this time. The place is dark, full with abandoned buildings.
"We're here." Lania informed Takaya that they were there.
He fastens his seat belts for Lania's landing the helicopter.
"ATC, this is Lieutenant Lania Kanashima, Starlight II. Requesting for landing." Lania communicates with the X.A.G air traffic control,
"Lieutenant Lania Kanashima, landing request denied. Please leave this site immediately. I repeat, please leave the site immediately."
"They did not expect us to come… What are you going to do, Takaya?" Lania asked,
Takaya wear the headphone to communicate with the air traffic control,
"ATC, this is Takaya Takahashi. I'm with the lieutenant. Requesting for landing permission."
"Confirmation, Takaya Takahashi?"
"Yes."
"Please wait a moment."
The ATC hold the communication for a moment,
"Request granted." The voice of the air traffic control tensed so suddenly.
Lania lowers the chopper near ground. Soon as the they touch the ground, 5 personnel coming out from the entrance. Takaya get off and headed for the entrance door,
The personnel move a side giving him a path to walk past the entrance. They continued along the way enters the base by underground entrance.
Lania leads the way since Takaya not familiar for the place, she enters the door which is they're heading for which he follows and walk through the door just to see a palace like hall. The hall has an intimidating ambiance with so many ancient relics.
"Takaya, unfortunately I cannot pass this door, you'll enter this last door alone." She said after they reached the door at the end of the hall,
"Finally." He whispered.
"Be done with it. Call me if your done."
Lania leaves him alone.
Takaya activates his intercom in case he needs Lania's help, and enters the room by opening a big door.
Once inside, he cannot believe what he sees. Is another hall full with statues placed each side of the walls, curtains that fall, and an empty throne at the end.
He looks around with terrified eyes, observes the place. Sickened by the display of the statues,
"My Beloved Grandson."
An old man's voice from a distance,
"I'm here, Grandfather."
The old man walks and reveals himself from behind the throne
"You have grown…"
He praised Takaya,
Takaya staggered by his grandfather's appearance, an old man with a white hair and beard. Weakening body, as the man walk with a cane.
"I supposed you came here with a reason, my child."
Takaya suddenly feel so heavy the moment when Orphenus guessing his coming,
"Y-yes… There are several things I need to know."
Gulped,
"Will you be willing to hear, Grandfather?"
Orphenus sits at his throne giving him an intense look for a moment,
"Speak."
Being heard about his grandfather never answer anyone's question or wishes. On contrary he witnesses nothing as being told.
Orphenus put his cane beside of his throne,
"Tell me, what did you do to me 5 years ago."
The old man chuckels, as he gazed at Takaya, giving his soft yet piercing eyes.
"Oh child, I assume you already learn about your mothers secret as well, have you?"
"Yes."
"Then it is the time I tell you, about the occurrence that happened 5 years ago…" -he deeply sighed-
"Erisa. My first-born daughter is a diligent, smart, clumsy and most importantly strong. She was everything that I have ever wanted. Your mother and I share a same vision…"
"We believe there is something greater from this world that can be useful for the lives of humans. As you see, as a founder of this nation, we are far more advanced than any nations."
"Erisa inherits my sensitivity. At her young age, she discovered the evidence of the fallen ancient warrior whereabouts and she making great progress with it. Maybe even greater than me at my age… "
"One day I decide to give her my legacy, as the leader of this nation and all entire X.A.G organization to her."
"You gave my mother… your legacy…"
"Yes… And as I expected, she manages to build this nation— military even stronger, more advanced alongside her sister Bella. But everything changed 20 years ago."
***
It's been an hour since she passes out, she finally awakens. Her vision so blurry soon she opens her eyes, it's hard to see. As she tries as hard as she can to raised her body, suddenly became so light like she's being pushed.
"You're awake…" a soft motherly voice greets her,
"Mom… What happened?" -She held her head in pain- "Tak- Takaya!" she tries to stand but her mother holds her at her place.
"Relax… Everything is fine now." Bella slowly loosens her grips.
"Asahi… I want to ask you something."
She was surprised by her mother unusually behave,
"What is it mom?"
Bella brings out a file that she kept hidden behind her
"Ever since you used your 'power' have you notice something changing?"
She dumbfounded, it's a rare topic she suddenly brought out,
"Answer me, Asahi."
Her mother said with empesized tone.
"I…"
Her mother can see that she hesitates to say the truth,
"I asked Mr. Fubuki for your medical checkups…"
Asahi looked away as she doesn't want to look at her mother's face,
"How dare you… For not telling me about this? You lost control over your power and fainted. That is very important thing you should always tell me!"
"Mom, I…" Asahi looked at her mother already in tears, "I'm sorry… I don't want to make you worried about me."
Asahi held her mother hands, bows on her. She does it every time when she feels awful,
"Forgive me…"
"Asahi… I want you to listen what I'm about to say. This is about your 'power' and its history."
Asahi raised her head, while her mother moves back from her, a serious mood begins to flow the room. Wondering what will her mother say, she looked at her with curious eyes,
"Do you remember about the story of my older sister?" Bella said,
"Aunty Erisa?"
"Yes… We're born as twins though our thoughts are different, where she eager to follows our father path, where I'm down to support and defend his idea under his creation of this nation, X.A.G, and many. Much like she is the sword and I'm the shield, but things take turns 20 years ago…"
For the first time Asahi hear certain timeline in the story since Bella always ended the story by showing how incredibly his sister was,
"When about your age our father made her a leader for this nation, everything changes after that. She became a different person, a goofy kid turned into scary lady, feared by the nations but after that day, I also begin to scared of her…"
"Eh…" Asahi react as she confused by her mother uneasy air,
"Sometime after her promotion, we went to south pole, it is our last discovery mission."
"Wait, Mom… Are you saying that… The day of the first reincarnated warrior… You and aunty Erisa also there?"
"She is the first Reincarnated Warrior."
Asahi froze while her mid begins to building a happy sensation, on contrary her mother shows a bitter face as she told her the story,
"Since that day, I never see— her as my sister— nor I can recognize her appearance or her behavior… I keep thinking about it every day. Should I stop her? Should I oppose? But the situation at that moment forward drive me to always believe her either she is changing or not…"
Seeing her mother begins to tearing off once again, she grabs her mother hands "Mom you don't have to-"
"No… You need to know this in order to understand what situation you'll be dealing with in future…"
"What are you talking about? There is no connection between me and aunt Erisa. Yes, we are the same reincarnated-"
She stopped, frustrated,
"After I checked every of your medical state, your 'power', all of this make me conclude that— you and Erisa a similarity—in terms of the 'power' that you may possessed, I didn't find any idea how it is possible… But there are some sorts of things that you will might going through what she had back when she was still alive…"
***
"She began to lose herself. She never talks, share anything as usual, I became aware that she was avoiding me in some way." The old man speaks in regret.
Takaya stay silent, as he symphonized what his grandfather feels despite this question remain unanswered.
"That brings me to your question, what happened 5 years ago."
Takaya start to feel uneasy by Orphenus gaze,
"5 years ago, I conducted an experiment to you, in order to bring this world, L.I.G.T.H. My goal is to revive ultimate power of the strongest ancient warrior that once lived and made you as its reincarnate." – Orphenus suddenly clenched his fist— "But I was way over my mind… When I discovered that you are indeed the reincarnation of the Wielder of Light, I immediately stop the experiment…"
"I am… the reincarnation of… wielder of light from the beginning?" Takaya muttered as he frustrated by the sudden expose,
"That time, I was sure that what Erisa's doing is what is to preventing me to finding out about the truth." The air begins to change intensively, rage drawn on Orphenus's face,
"That day we're still war, and received an information that Erisa came back all the way to the facility, and the first explosion happened. When I arrived at the location there was relics that belongs to the 11 ancient warriors. To think that she might tried to Seal their souls once again but ending up fail."
Takaya eyes widely open when he hears the fact that her mother's doing,
"The second explosion… It must be the second attempt…"
"I also thought the thing…" Orphenus said
Takaya finally getting the answer, as he processed the information, he begins to conclude that maybe all of his research reaches the end, until Orphenus stand form the throne carries a book,
"Unfortunately, We're wrong… "
"When the Light had the power to bring the truth… The Darkness is a curse that binding us to mischief and evil."
Another mystery, another explanation.
"We humans have that both sides. The matter is which one is the dominant… Until I found out that when your mother died…"
"Not only I feel losing her, I loosing my memories as well."
Takaya clenched his fist,
"I have that feeling as well…
Orphenus raised from his throne, caries the book that he holds.
"Asahi Fukasawa, the second reincarnated warrior who wields the darkness that you mother had carry before. Suddenly appears from nowhere"
"She is… Bella's daughter-"
"Not related by blood. He appearance in our life like she was a replacement for somebody we know all along."
"What-"
Orphenus appears in front of Takaya, already pushing a book on his chest,
"This your mother's journal. Contains everything she had worked. Everything you need to know about your power and its nature."
"Why you gave it to me?"
Orphenus walk away from him, slowly, yet seems weak,
"Takaya… You are chosen to bear the Light, and Asahi carries the Darkness. No matter where you are, you we're inseparable."
"Which mean she'll always defy your justice."
The old man opens the door, who know where it will go to. The boy gulped as he waiting the old man continues his word…
"Let there be justice." – Orphenus gazed at him with his piercing eyes—
"I really love to see you in future, May we meet again. Hopefully next time with all of you children." He left the room.
As the room becomes empty, Takaya looked at the book that his grandfather gave to him, wonder what it is inside.
"Takaya! This is Lania, come in!" a voice transmission suddenly heard from his radio,
"Lieutenant, I hear you-"
"We're under attack! The base now will totally lock-down, before that happened, we will escape!" Lania hollered panicky voice, rapid footstep also can be heard,
"Who would attack this place?" he asked under confusion,
"I don't know. Most possibly is S.I.N— forget about that! we meet on the chopper. I'm heading there as we speak-"
"No. I'll go check on the situation, you go ahead prepare the chopper."
"Ehh… Takaya-" he switched his radio off, and hastily go outside of the base.
As he running in halls and corridors, the rooms are empty, no ones left. It true that they're will be locking down the place.
He arrived at the different entrance where this one heading towards the abandoned city.
He comes out of the base, witnessing a heavy scenery. The city appearances really fit it name, everything is just a ruin, no single sign of life.
From far away he noticed there was a figure standing alone in the middle of the road, he quickly hides behind a rubble, pulling his revolver that he kept, prepare for the ambush.
"You don't need to hide. I can feel your presence." The figure suddenly hollered,
"Wh-" he thrilled, as the figure knows he was coming.
He hesitates to go, but there is only way to know what the figure really after.
He reveals himself by walking out form his hiding spot. Shocked to saw a figure that doesn't really look like an ordinary soldier. An average young girl posture with a blonde hair, dressed in a dark, red and gold strips.
Half masked only covers the eyes with a red and black color like an oni and two horns facing up. Appears in a frightening way, she gazed at Takaya with her blue shining eyes.
"You are…" He muttered, somehow, he recalls someone he knows with the eyes. But it will be too fast to conclude based on uncertain memory.
"Who are you?"
The girl stands with her both hands behind, staring at Takaya as she observed his intention,
"Carrying a gun while approaching a lady?"
She talked like a normal people with similar age with Takaya,
"You should not be here. You need to leave now, this place is a remote area and currently under attack, or you are-"
"Me? Attacking? No, no… I'm here because I'm searching for someone…" the girl said,
"Who you are looking for?"
"Someone who very close to me…" the girl suddenly expresses guilt, "You seemed weird, why are scared, we're the same after all…"
He gulped, the word same suddenly pinching his brain,
"What do you mean?" he asked acted as he didn't know what the topic,
"Hee… Strange… I though as a same reincarnated warrior will have the ability to recognizing each other…" She playfully muttered.
"Takaya!" a familiar voice hollered from above,
"Lania-"
"Hurrraaaaaahhh!!!!" she descends from the sky as fast as a bullet, drawing he big sword like she was about to cut the girl.
It happened so fast, makes the wind violently pushed away as she landed her strike, but only to see the girl is already shielding herself casually only with her right a wrist to hold against the sword,
"Ghh.. As I thought…"
"Aa… How waste of energy, good entrance though." The girl calmly complimented Lania, while Lania struggle pushing, her sword onto the girl,
"The second commander of the Elite, no wonder you are pretty strong…" –he moves her left arm towards Lania's face—
"This is my counter attack…"
On such of close range, a ball of energy began to emanate from her palm, a very intense red glowing energy pushes small particles around,
"No way at that range-"
Takaya rush towards Lania,
"Better luck next time."
A wild explosion abrupted, shakes the ground and throwing everything around it. A small ball of energy caused the medium scale blast in matter of seconds. Every eye that saw this madness will determine the fight was over,
"What a surprise…." The girl eyebrows curling, her lips arched wide,
"Takaya… you…"
Everyone stunned as the witness a bright transparent dome around them. The girl jumps back further away creating a space between Takaya and Lania. The energy gradually disappears, as Takaya fell to his knees with heavy eyes,
"You didn't seem have fully control over your power…" – the girl raised her right hand— "What a waste… I didn't find any leads, but it was fun though…"
Lania twitches her legs as she feels the girl moves,
"I hope we meet again soon, Ta-Ka-Ya." She slowly dispersed as her figure became unseen.
In the moment Takaya suddenly fell completely onto the ground,
"Takaya… Takaya! Takaya!!"
He only can hear fading voice, numbed and sore.
He closed both of his eyes…