Ch 1: A Second Chance - Pt 3: New Reality

One sunny afternoon, my mother and I were picking some of the ripe fruit from the bushes in the garden. Even though I had been doing this for quite some time, it often reminded me of when I used to visit my grandparents' farm. Grandpa and Grandma always had an assortment of vegetables, all kinds of berry bushes and various fruit trees. No apple trees, though.

The mindless picking was interrupted when my father returned from hunting. "Miyo. We need to talk."

My mother pushed herself up and brushed off her dress. "Is something the matter, Darling?"

Hakuma's face was stone cold. "There were some men on the forest path." My father turned his back to us. "Anything further we can discuss inside." After taking a step, he paused and looked down at the ground to his left. "Not in front of Aoi."

Miyo slowly walked over and placed her hand on my head. "Aoi, please take care of the rest for me. I'll bake you something special as a reward. Okay?"

Enough said. The devilish angel of a woman sure knew how to sweet talk a man. "You got it!"

I would have been lying if I said I was not at all curious about what Miyo and Hakuma were discussing. What was so strange about seeing someone walking on a forest road? Rather than getting hung up on it, I carried on like a good boy and finished up the harvesting for the day.

Pushing the door open with my back, I heaved the loaded basket inside. The thump as it hit the ground was deafening in the silence of the house. In the chair in the corner of the room sat my father staring at the ceiling. His eyes were narrowed, and his mouth was flat.

As for my mother, her usual shining aura was dim. As much as I wanted to ask about what was going on, my stomach felt otherwise. The dessert on the table was like a dream come true.

An apple pie.

But not just any apple pie.

A manzana pie!

The aroma told me all I needed, but I was unable to hold back after the pleasant warmth filled my mouth. "This is delicious! How did you learn how to cook so well, Mom?!"

A playful giggle snuck out and dissipated the cloud over her head. "When I was a little girl, I used to sneak into the kitchen to help out every chance I could. The maids were real nice. They taught me everything I know!"

Maids? Does that mean Mom was from a wealthy family? Then, how'd she end up out here? Eight years and I still did not know who my parents really were. "Hey, Mom... Will you tell me more about your life from before you had me?"

My mother looked out the window and tapped her finger against her chin. "Hmm. Perhaps when you are a little older."

I could not help feeling more and more anxious. Like Miyo and Hakuma were hiding something from me.

* * * * *

The next night, my longstanding questions were partially answered: Why were we living this secluded life in the woods?

The faint sounds of footsteps surrounding our house could barely be heard in the eerie stillness of the night. Miyo ushered me into the back corner of the main room. Hakuma armed himself with his longsword and positioned himself beside the door with his back against the wall.

My short training sword sat a few meters away. As much as I hoped to avoid a situation like this, if it came down to it, I was ready to put my skills to the test. What would all those years of training have been for if I surrendered without a fight?

A dim torchlight passed by the window on the other side of the doorway from where my father stood. Hakuma tightened the grip on the hilt and raised his sword. Two solid steps stopped on the other side of the entrance. But the door never opened. Instead, torches came flying in through the two front windows, the window above the kitchen sink, and the one in the bedroom.

Accepting the risk of an intruder barging in, my father rushed to our side. "Quickly, Miyo! We need to get out of here!"

My mother crouched down with one hand over her mouth. "Aoi, stay low and don't let go of my hand."

"One sec!" I ran to grab my weapon. Suffocating from the sheer amount of smoke already filling the small structure, I involuntarily dropped to my knees.

"Aoi!" My father's voice boomed over the constant crackling, and I soon felt his muscular arm lifting me up.

I clutched my sword as my feet dangled, and with his hands full, Hakuma busted through the door with a kick. To our surprise, there was no sign of anyone waiting in the dark.

Miyo crept outside accompanied by some dramatic coughs. She reached for her husband's shirt when a man suddenly snatched her from behind. "Mm-mmm!"

At the alarm of the stifled scream, my father dropped me on the cold, hard ground. "Miyo! Let her go!" Leaving me behind, Hakuma bolted into the darkness after the kidnapper.

I shivered from a chill like none I had ever felt before. A cold sweat formed on the back of my neck despite the heat of the fire behind me. The uncertainty of what lurked beyond in the lightless night froze me in front of the burning building.

Jumping at every snap and crash of our collapsing home, I squeezed my eyelids shut and covered my ears. Even if I had already gone through it once, I was terrified of dying. And as I reflected on the final moments of my past life, one phrase echoed in my mind -- my dying wish.

"I take it back! I don't need an exciting life! I liked my quiet life with Miyo and Hakuma! Please! Please come back for me!"

Hooves galloping in the dense forest grew closer. A clamor of men shouting shot through the darkness. Desperate panting breached the brush. I shook my head aggressively and unsheathed my blade. It's do or die!

"Aoi! Thank goodness!" In one swift motion, the speed demon hurdled over the fiery debris and wrapped his free arm around my waist. The two limp bodies of his loved ones did not slow him down one bit as he darted back into the darkness.

* * * * *

What had begun to feel like an ordinary life ten years ago was turning out to be anything but that. The more we were hunted and forced to relocate, the more I started to question the new reality I found myself living. Something strange was going on every night after I fell asleep. By morning, a new home and a thriving garden would appear seemingly out of nowhere.

Only one somewhat reasonable explanation came to mind: Magic. This possibility also explained why the fruits were always ready for picking and the veggies were always ready for harvesting. One of my parents must have been able to use magic to keep them growing and fresh. But why were they hiding it from me? If I had really been reborn in a fantasy world, wouldn't magic be quite normal?​

Magic or not, that was not important at the moment. What I really wanted to know -- what I really needed to know -- was why we had been running for seven years. What could my parents possibly have done? Who are these people? Why are they tracking us down?

In the midst of planting new seeds that were certain to be fully grown by morning, I abruptly stopped and walked up behind Miyo. "Mom. Why are those men hunting us? Did you and Dad do something? I don't know anything about your pasts, and it bothers me. If there is anything I can do to help, I need you to tell me."

The thud of a lifeless body followed by the scent of a fresh kill and a quavering voice came from my right. "Son, please don't bother your mother with--"

Miyo calmly yet firmly raised her hand signaling she was all right, but she never took her eyes away from the umpteenth garden she had planted. "Darling, I think it's about time we told Aoi the truth. He is fifteen now. He deserves that much."

Hakuma nodded and fell to his knees like his legs finally gave out under the weight of some burden.

My mother resumed patting the soil in front of her. "Aoi, let's plant these last few seeds. We can chat after dinner."