Chapter 2: Understanding

I stood beside Father, attired in divine garments, as he grasped his staff. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through me, and his expression was measured. I posed the question, "Father, why do you cherish human lives when they continually slaughter one another, drenching the world in blood?" Father's response was calm and collected, "Son, listen to yourself. We are the guardians of humanity, not their destroyers. We must value their lives."
I scoffed, "I shall never value their lives. Listen well, Father, for when the throne is mine, I shall eradicate all humans and forge a new civilization." The memory faded, and I awoke to find Rose standing over me, her gaze fixed on my mask.
Rose was a skilled warrior with long, curly brown hair and bright green eyes that sparkled with enthusiasm. She was a complex person with a depth and nuance that I was only beginning to appreciate. I requested she step aside, and she obliged.
Removing my mask, I surveyed my surroundings and realized I possessed the ability to summon beasts, although the mechanism eluded me. As Rose caught sight of my unveiled face, she blushed and behaved strangely – a reaction I'd never witnessed before.
She quickly composed herself and continued onward. I donned my mask and followed, lost in thought. "I glimpsed memories... Are those truly my memories?" Rose, seemingly oblivious to my introspection, muttered to herself, "Oh no, oh no! Who knew behind that mask was a handsome, pleasing man? I'm growing flustered. This is embarrassing."
Noticing her distress, I inquired if she had a fever. She denied it, attributing her flushed complexion to my face being "red." When I pressed for an explanation, she retorted, "Mind your own business." After a moment of silence, Rose introduced herself, revealing she was called Rose due to her unique ability – which she teased would be revealed in due time.
She extended her hand, and I shook it, remarking, "How pleasing." Behind my mask, a dark smile spread across my face as I thought, "Perhaps I can utilize her to uncover answers. I merely need to accompany her a little longer." When she asked about my name, I admitted I didn't recall it – the name my father had given me.
Rose smiled and dubbed me "The Masked One," suggesting that behind my mask lay many unthinkable secrets. We continued on our journey, the dynamics between us growing increasingly intriguing.
As we journeyed to the nearest town, Rose taught me how to wield a katana. My skills improved rapidly, and we decided to stop in the town for some food. I sat at a table, hesitant to remove my mask in public. Instead, I took my food and retreated to a room to eat, finally feeling comfortable enough to remove my mask.
In the dead of night, I took a walk around the town, pondering my past. Suddenly, a shuriken flew out of nowhere, and I instinctively blocked it with my katana. Several more followed, and I deflected each one. A young woman emerged, demanding gold from me.
She was a skilled mage with long white hair like a river of snow and piercing hazel eyes that seemed to gleam with magical energy. In a moment of anger, I grasped my mask, and my eye glowed red. A winged beast materialized, its gaze fixed on the woman.
The beast was a magnificent creature with wings as wide as a house and feathers as black as coal. Its eyes glowed like embers, and its talons seemed to be made of razor-sharp steel. The beast's wingspan was so vast that it blocked out the light of the moon, casting a dark shadow over the town.
I was on the verge of unleashing its fury when Rose intervened, stopping me just in time. The beast vanished, and the woman froze in terror. She summoned her staff and apologized profusely for her actions. As she turned to leave, Rose invited her to join our mission, and she agreed.
Behind my mask, I seethed with anger, thinking, "She attempted to steal from me. Why can't I kill her?" I departed for the night, my mind racing with questions about humans. The next morning, I ventured into the forest to understand my powers.
As I stood there, something startled me, and my eye glowed blue. An ice beast emerged, only to disappear just as suddenly. I realized that my powers were tied to my emotions – a discovery that both fascinated and unsettled me.
I walked to the town with a lot of questions as I met Rose on the way smiling as bright as always how intriguing. I turned to Rose and asked, "What are emotions?" She looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and concern.