Destined Encounters

We rode the sapphire coloured dragon whose name is apparently Heather.

“What a beautiful name to give a dragon” I told Haruki whilst looking at the shimmering accessories Heather has encrusted on her armour.”

“Yeah, my mother named her.” Haruki replied with a tender smile

Now that I think about it, I don't know anything about Haruki’s parents. I know my dad has one brother. I would love to know what type of people they are for Haruki to smile like this.

“She died when I was young because of a disease, my father died of battle shortly after.”

“Oh… I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked that question.”

“No, no it’s fine. You’re a part of this family, it's something you should know.” Haruki continued…

“Uncle Kojin only told me about my father’s death. He didn't tell me the details on how he died, but he told me my fathers’ last words. He said— tell Haruki to not take revenge. I lived with our grandfather after that and became a soldier”

So we were both orphaned at a young age, I thought to myself…. It's sad to think that our parents couldn't be with us but we can’t do anything about it now. I know that Haruki became a soldier to look for me but I think there's a deeper reason as to why he still became a soldier despite his father’s last words.

“Have you ever found out how your dad died?” I asked without thinking that it might be a bit insensitive to ask someone how their parents died but I did it anyway.

“Of Course I found out, why do you think I pursued on becoming a soldier despite his last words?” Haruki replied with a serious look on his face.

“He was killed by the Headless liar.” His eyes burned with the desire of revenge…

“The Headless liar?!” I raised my voice in disbelief.

“You know the Headless liar?” Haruki asked in a rush—Of course Haruki would react like this. for someone who only found out about his origins just recently wouldn't know about the headless liar but here I am.

“Yes…'' I replied with a firm tone. “The night I returned back from Euryphaessa I dreamt about my mom. I was holding my moms Flower like accessory that looks like a Lily, You know that flower in her hair in the painting?”

“Ah yes, I remember. That is Aunt Thalia’s main gem” Haruki replied in earnest. “So her consciousness was transferred to her gem… I see”

“Yes. That time Mom asked me if I have any questions she can answer… I was too emotional at that time so I couldn't think of a good question besides the name of the one who killed them.”

Haruki’s eyes suddenly darted in my direction as if he realised what I was going to say next.

“I know what you're thinking and you are correct.” I continued… “It was the headless liar.”

“Everyone thought the headless liar died after his last battle with your dad when he was still at Euryphaessa… I knew it! He wouldn’t kick the bucket that easily. Uncle Kojin said it himself”

“That what?”

“After the battle Uncle Kojin said something was wrong, that when he defeated the headless liar, something didn’t feel right to him. He told everyone to—keep your eyes open for any sign of the headless liar. But no one was listening, everyone was just paranoid. To think that murder was indeed alive all those years waiting for the time to exact his revenge.” Haruki said with a grim voice.

He ruined both our lives… and probably more lives that we don’t know about.

“Haruki… how do shadows get stronger?”

“Stronger you said?—by doing the most horrible things to another person of course.”

“They kill people?”

“Well you can say it that way, but sometimes it more sinister that what is it in the surface”

Haruki took a deep breath and explained

“Let’s start from the very beginning— first there’s the shadow every human has in the mortal plane… when they die, where do you think their shadow goes?”

“Normally I would answer no where, it's just a shadow or a shade made by light rays. But now I know they turn into rogue shadows with consciousness, am I right?”

“You’re right, like how a person's remains are left behind on earth, their shadow is left behind too… Now, remember those shadows that you have encountered in the past? Those are the rogue shadows that get left behind. No one knows the reason why they try to take over a person’s body because we never got to ask one… all we got are crazed answers so we can’t take them as facts.”

“You mean Euryphaessans tried communicating with shadows before?”

“Well of course, we can’t just make assumptions without asking… but researchers eventually stopped because all attempts would end up in a fight or the shadows would just give unserious answers.”

“Shadow’s can speak?” I probably asked a stupid question.

“Ah, I forgot to mention. Those rouge shadows that you encountered…, If they had managed to successfully consume that person and they die, they'd be able to gain their soul and manifest a physical body. They are called Entities.”

“Don’t they obtain the body of that person they killed?”

“I don't think that’s the case. For one, when facing an Entity, any encounters will always end in an all out fight. And during those fights, many soldiers reported that they don’t bleed when they get wounded. There's only a hole or an empty gap when they get slashed or stabbed. So the theory about them possessing real bodies has been debunked.”

That makes sense I thought to myself

“So the soul they acquire from a living human is what makes them have physical bodies. So what if they had acquired multiple souls? I asked.

“They get more powerful of course. Plus if that soul is from a Euryphaessan, they get more powerful. That theory was proven by your father when he faced the headless liar...” Haruki’s eyes turned dark, maybe from anger or worse.

Judging from his expression I think I know why. The Euryphaessan soul that the headless liar consumed was Haruki’s father. I don't need to ask him to confirm that, his looks says it all.

Soon enough we reached Euryphaessa. At first it was an empty horizon.

“Emfanìsou” Haruki spoke out loud and suddenly the floating city of Euryphaessa faded into thin air.

“What would happen if a plane were to fly into Euryphaessa without seeing it and crash into the city?” I asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Well, the city made sure it's not in the flight path of any planes.”

“I see…”

We reached old man Chron’s house and decided to call the night as soon as we got my luggage to my father’s bedroom. Haruki told me I’ll be staying until I enter the Euryphaessa Academy.

We discussed my transfer to the academy last time I was here, and now I have decided that I will become a soldier in order to better fulfil my destiny by gaining knowledge on combat.

It was a quiet night in Euryphaessa, compared to the bustling nights in Tokyo; It was a different feeling and yet pleasant, I'm at a different house yet I felt at home.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling a bit lightheaded and I was having an eerie feeling run down my spine. I stood up on my wooden bed and had a quick look around the bedroom.

“Everything looks normal” I thought to myself, and yet I have this feeling that something dark is about to happen. I walked out the bedroom and followed my instincts. I walked through the silent hallways where light was dimmer than usual. There was no light on anyroom and somehow I was able to see through the dark. I continued to walk the silent hallway.

“This hallway feels like it's been going on since forever.” I thought. “I don’t remember walking this long…”

I walked and walked for who knows how long… until I saw a light at one of the doors on the side of the hallways. The hall still continues and yet I was drawn to this particular door.

I placed my ear near the door in an attempt to listen to what was on the other side.

I heard an unfamiliar melody played on a lonely piano. There illuminated the sound of sorrow that has a silent rage accompanied with it. I didn't think twice upon entering this suspicious door, it felt inviting more than anything else.

I peeked through the door unknowing of what was behind the melody.

There I saw a beautiful blonde lady wearing a white voluminous gown. She looked ghostly and somewhat spectral. Her golden hair glistened though the one ray of light that was casting light on the whole room. Her face was angelic yet covered by the drops of tears falling down from her glowing pale face. Her tears shattered like glass as they hit the ground while continued playing her tune.

My mind was full of questions that were left unanswered. I stared at the crying lady who stopped playing. She must’ve felt my presence. She started to turn around and look in my direction and yet I didn’t feel the need to move or hide myself from her presence… I felt that I was supposed to be here.

The lady opened her mouth and a deafening cry echoed through the room as the lady wailed and cried horrendously. Her face was morphed and was unrecognisable. I covered my ears in an attempt to muffle the ear-piercing cry… and then silence. The crying lady spoke in a hoarse voice—

The day of the disaster is soon approaching.

The Child of darkness needs allies to his journey that soon will be nearing.

A friend of dark origin shall be found where the flowers bloom on the rainy night.

Another is a soldier of light,

An ally who has the eye of goodness who can see through lies.