Tales and Legends

Mimi plays outside the village with plain clothes made from special silk. Climbing onto trees and jumping from them like a wild animal. She smiles only in the joy of exploration. A gleam in her eyes when she lands onto the ground. Thinking she had landed safely, she took another step only to trip from the unleveled swamp water.

“I never thought I would have so much fun. Jumping from trees and crawling into logs. I always resented this. Mocking those who did this, but this… This is so fun. Too much fun. I would play until I was tired.” Mimi thought.

Mimi recalled when she received her plain silk clothes. She felt so comfortable in them even though they looked plain and boring. She looked up to her dad with a confused expression.

“Did you make these papa?”

Her father laughed. “No, Aru. Your mother made them, she is quite the crafter when it comes to clothing.”

“I want to know how she made them! I want to do this too!”

“Oh hoho, so do you know what they are made of, Aru?”

“I don’t know. What is it?”

Her father took something from the shrub and showed her an odd spider with unusual patterns on its body.

“These are Poie spiders! They are harmless to us, but to other insects, they feed whenever something gets into their web. We found out we can use their silk cobwebs for clothing and can be used for anything. And best of all… Uh… Aru?”

Mimi is frozen still and falls onto the ground the moment she sees the spider. Pale and shaken, her father tries to bring her back from her shock moment.

She comes out from her embarrassing recollection as she sits on the log.

“Oh right… I’m Aru now… I don’t know what happened, but I am thankful for my circumstances… but I can’t help but think…”

“Nozomi… I hope you’re okay…” she muttered to herself.

“Aru! Where are you?” Her father shouted.

“I’m here, Papa!” She yelled back.

“It’s time for breakfast. Hurry and wash up!”

“Okay!!” She yelled with enthusiasm. She started running back and met him where he would cut firewood.

“I’m here, Papa!” She said with a smile.

“Ah, Aru. Good. The bath is set for you. Hurry off and get yourself ready. Join your mother in her grove.”

“Okay Papa!” Aru said happily. Aru went to her warm bath. She removes her dirt filled clothes, slowly entering the bath warmed by flames. Firewood provided by her father. Soothing and warm, she basked in the relaxation contemplating in her new life.

“I don’t know how I was teleported here, but I am grateful. “ She places her chin on her knees. Eyes closed, she sings a hymn. Aru raises her arm, staring at her skin. White as snow and red marks. Some lines. Some spots.

“It might be different from my last life, but I prefer it. I love it. I have never had a loving family. All of this feels so surreal. Like I’m living in a fairytale. A paradise.” Aru touches her small horns on her head. She continued to hum in her respite. Birds sing to the wind. Leaves whistle in the wind, a peace nestled in the wind.

Aru ventures out from her home, dressed in an intricate dress. Her robes are made of silk. The finest she has ever felt. Gently, her fingers run through the fabric. A red rose color mixed with white. She smiled in absolute joy. A bliss Aru had never taken for granted. Aru touches her check with her hand in excitement.

"Oh my god! I have never felt something so soft in my life. The dress is so beautiful."

She took a pause. Her eyes face her feet with her in the clouds.

"I had everything I ever wanted, and yet everything felt so... hollow." Aru continues to daydream, wrapped in own mind until someone stopped in from her home. The lady's eyes glittered with awe.

"Miss Aru!" someone called out. Aru snaps out of the trance as their eyes meet.

"Erune!" Aru began. "Why are you here?"

"Why, I cannot visit my own friend?" Erune asked.

"W-well... I was not expecting you." Aru said.

"I know, I wanted to see you and..." Erune looked closely at Aru. Completely amazed, She raised her head.

“Miss Aru! You look beautiful!”

“Thank you Erune!” Aru's eyes lit up like fireworks.

"Oh my! You are so adorable, Miss Aru.

Aru started to twiddle her thumbs and index fingers.

"That's what Nozomi would say to me... I wonder how she is?"

"What are you thinking, Aru?"

"Oh nothing!"

"Hmm...very well. But sooner or later you will tell me what is holding dear. Promise?"

"Okay. I promise, Erune!"

Erune looks away halfway while closing one eye. She ponders if Aru would open up to her. However, Erune relents.

Then I cannot wait for the moment where we can talk. I am happy to hear your tale, Miss Aru. They both smile at each other, sharing a small pause of silence.

"Now." Erune began. “Where are you going?”

I’m going to my mother’s grove. My father told me she needed help!”

“I love your mother. Miss Ami has helped so many people when they were in great peril. My parents included. Your father, the previous hero, came to the village to see us thrive. And to be with her. I have never seen such devotion.

“Ehh! Really!? Aru yelled out with shock.

“I never knew that! My father didn’t say a single word about being a hero!”

Yes! He and other daemon tribes ended the reign of a dark daemon of destruction.

“Daemon?” Aru said in confusion. Erune smiled and nodded her head.

“We were on the brink of destruction until the hero, your father, and the daemon tribes brought down the Daemon of Destruction Abaddon. They sealed him away into a stone slab of powerful sealing magic to ensure he is never summoned back into our plane.”

“Wow…!” Aru’s eyes sparkled with delight. The young lady stepped closer to Erune. Enticed by the story of her parents. Her beautiful kimono of intricate designs. Erune cannot help but smile at Aru's curiosity.

“Aru, do you know who sealed the big bad Daemon?” Erune asked. Aru smiles from the excitement. She looked at her. Face to face, Erune said with bliss. “It was your mother, Aru. Ami of Greengrove village, Leader of the Oni, Shuten, Ravana, leader of the Raksu, and Tarobo, Leader of the Tengu. And with everyone working as a team, they defeated the evil Daemon to bring peace!” Erune yelled out. She raised her hand with such enthusiasm, Aru turned to look at her father. She had so much admiration for her father. Hacking firewood as he smiled back at her.

“Thank you Erune. Thank you for telling me the story.” Aru said.

“You do not have to say thank you! I have admired Miss Ami for so long. I want to be just like her when I grow up!”

“Yes… I too want to be just like her…”

“Let’s try our best.”

“Hey! Aru!”

“Yes!” Aru turns around. Joy disperses when her eyes look at a large oni. Veins bulge through the massive muscles. Darkened purple skin and bright red eyes. Aru trembles in fear almost at the point of tears. The frightening oni arcs over to laugh in a hysterical deep voice.

The oni shrinks, arcing back with deep humor. The large muscles and bulging veins become smaller, eventually becoming a normal size physique. The oni keeps laughing until Erune jumps high in the sky and kicks him in the back of the head.

“You monster. How could you scare Miss Aru to death? The poor thing is at the point of tears! Please do apologize when you are done aching in pain like a jester who lost their balls. You hear me Iten.”

“Yes yes… I get it.. It… it was only a joke…” Iten struggled to speak his words where the pain stung onto his neck.

“Good. Miss Aru was having a pleasant conversation regarding her parents. And you come to only scare her. Rude you are.”

“I- I’m sorry, Miss Aru. Please forgive me.”

“I forgive you, Iten. Don’t worry.” Aru holding out her hand. Iten looked at her. Eyes of a pleasant ruby red. The outer rim is a light pink hue. Under her eyes is a red mark passed down from Aru’s mother.

“When I grow up, I will make sure to protect you, Aru. I promise. Until my dying breath.”

Aru gives Iten a warm smile. Her charm completely overtakes Iten with infatuation. His flustered face kept turning red until he turned around. He couldn’t stop, deciding to bid his leave. Running as fast as possible.