Tabi no Yume (A Journey of Dream)
Prologue –
The beginning of a dream
Lind Part 0
It was a full moon night in September, a little cloudy and windy. A boy was walking down the street near a riverside, wearing his old torn jacket and dirty jeans. He clenched his fists inside his pockets to warm up his fingers while trudging forward against the piercing breeze. Sleepy and tired, but he moved on. He stopped in front of a bench on the sidewalk under a bridge to sit down and take a break.
His name is Lind; a sixteen year old boy who's the eldest son of a family. He had just moved to this country not so long ago; hence he didn't really know much about the language being spoken. Recently his father was forced to undergo major surgery because of a brain cancer. His mom just gave birth to his younger brother, Hikaru. Today was supposed to be a happy day for Lind because he had just finished his first day of work at a nearby restaurant and earned his first pot of gold. But instead of celebrating the accomplishment with his family, he ran out on his own after a big argument with his parents. He was angry at what his parents had said and done for him. Not only that they brought him to this stupid who-knows-where place and forced him to live here with them. He had no friends. He gets bullied in school. And now he had to deal with these family matters. He might have to drop out of school to be the head of the family and start earning money.
Man, why do I have a life like this? …
Lind pulled up his legs into a crouching position on the bench, while glaring at the river.
I was working my ass off. Why do I have to deal with them when I come home all tired and stuff? Not to mention they took my money as well.
The wind started to blow, howling in his ear. The roads were empty, only a few cars passing by. There was no one else in the area beside the boy. He felt like his world was coming to an end. He crossed his arms around his knees to make himself warmer; starting to feel very sleepy.
Maybe it would be better for me to just die… No one would care anyway. I don't want to live anymore... not in a world like this...
A tear rolled down his bright red cheeks, as he raised his head to look at the bright full moon.
"Why are you crying?"
A woman with perfectly round sunglasses and a red coat that covered her down to her knees suddenly appeared next to Lind. A very grown up lady with beautiful long hair. She stared directly at Lind's wet face with an evil grin.
"Boy, what is your dream? What do you want or want to become in your life?" she asked with a soft voice
"I... don't know…" Lind laughed. He didn't seem to care about her sudden appearance.
"Ask yourself. What is it that you really want?"
The woman spoke again with a fragile sweet voice that caught Lind's attention. The luscious voice had put his mind at ease, to only thinking about the answer that she seeks.
Closing his eyes slowly, Lind began to have flashbacks of every single memory that had made him into who he is today; whether they were happy or sad. Many things that he had experienced in life up to now that he wanted to change, to help or save those that were like him throughout the world, to end pain and sorrow, to stop crying, to make the world a better place…
After a long silence, Lind mumbled with a weak and low voice.
"I… want power, to save and help people that are like me, to end sorrow and sadness, to create a better future for everyone…"
He then paused for a second.
"I … want to make a better world…"
He smiled weakly. But spoke with confidence.
Right at that moment, white auras started flowing out of Lind's whole body. It surrounded Lind for a spit second and flowed right into the woman's mouth. Lind felt parts of his mind had disappeared as if it was eaten or something. It didn't hurt, but the emptiness felt uncomfortable. He also felt something was injected into his body in place of the lost mind; something abnormal.
"Very interesting and delicious dream... I hope it comes true for you… He he..."
The woman giggled happily as if she just had finished a gourmet dinner, and then stepped into the darkness without leaving any trace.
Tsk, alone again huh. Maybe it's time for me to go then.
Lind felt disappointed. He thought that the woman would stay with him a little bit longer. Right when he was about to stand up and walk toward the dam in the river, he saw a very beautiful emerald ball of light flying toward him. He put forward his right hand for the creature to land on. It was a dragonfly, but not any normal one that he had ever seen. It was a dragonfly-like insect with four pairs of wings, and four eyes, in a very pretty emerald color and about the size of a soda can.
"Hey little one, what are you doing here?"
Lind smiled while patting the creature's head with his other hand. He didn't seem to be scared of the creature. But rather bonded with it as if it was a part of him.
[Side notes: "Mushi" [Bug in Japanese] are mysterious bug-like parasites that appeared ten years ago. They fed on the dreams of its human host and provide supernatural powers in exchange. Humans' desires of things or dreams of wanting to become someone were "Mushi's" source of energy. The targets of the infections were mainly teenagers. Although the government had disputed the existence of Mushi, rumors about them had already spread worldwide. Once possessed, the "Mushi" will feed on the host's dreams until either itself or the host dies. Hosts whose Mushi were killed will become "Fallen". They lose all their dreams, memories, emotions, and are unable to do anything on their free will unless ordered to.]
Near the river bank, the full moon shined on a boy whose was lying on the dam playing with an unknown creature that looked like an insect.
Suddenly, three people appeared behind Lind and started surrounding him. They were all wearing black coats and huge electronic goggles that covered half of their faces. Most of them were about the same age as Lind or older. One of the oldest looking kids pressed some buttons on his goggles and began to speak.
"This is team Bravo. We had just lost the target. But we discovered a new host, probably just got infested by "Oogui". We're now bringing him back to the HQ."
He finished with the report and turned to Lind.
"We're the Special Environmental Preservation Bureau [SEPB]. We have to take you with us because of the special power that you currently possess. If you refuse, we will have to use brutal force to terminate your "Mushi", the source of your power."
Lind stood silent. He didn't seem to notice their appearance. He was too tired and sleepy to do anything after his encounter with "Oogui".
"Tsk, kids these days. Do they even have manners? Gosh."
One of the teens with blonde hair complained. He walked closer to Lind.
The dragonfly flew rapidly in front of Lind to warn him about the incoming danger, but it was no use. Lind had no reaction at all. The dragonfly then landed on Lind's right arm. Its emerald aura shined brighter as it slowly wraps its tiny legs around Lind's arm, thus transforming itself into some sort of armguard. Its formal body can hardly be recognized, other than the wings that were left behind on the armguard and eyes at the front. The wind started to blow hard, forming little whirlwinds around Lind when the wings of the armguard started to vibrate and flap.
"Stop right there! Or else you will get hurt!"
The blonde hair guy shouted, calling forward his "Mushi". A giant hornet that shot its stinger at Lind the moment it appeared. But it was no use. The whirlwinds effortlessly reflected the stinger. It caught Lind's attention though, which made him turn his body facing the attackers. He raised his right hand at the hornet, and flicked his index finger.
Bang! The hornet was shot down by an invisible force.
"Argh…He went berserk…"
The blonde hair boy bent down to his knees, as if his shared the pain with his "Mushi".
"The ability to control air movement to create winds... such troublesome power... Guys, stay back."
The oldest kid shouted, while summoning his own "Mushi". A giant horn beetle that was like the size of a car appeared.
"This is going to get ugly…."
The other teen also summoned his "Mushi". A locust with sharp wings appeared next to him, ready for action.
The wind blew harder, forming bigger whirlwinds in front of Lind's right palm. He lifted his right arm at them. Just right when Lind was about to fire, he flinched backward and bent down into a kneeling posture, shaking his head painfully.
"Looks like he has regained consciousness. Attack while we can!"
The oldest kid ordered. The giant horn beetle stepped forward and fired its gigantic side horn at Lind.
I … won't lose, not now… I still haven't fulfilled my dream yet…
Lind panted while trying to get up. The dragonfly's eyes grew deep red, as if it was trying to overtake Lind's body again. Staring at the flying side horn, Lind stood up reluctantly and swung back his right arm as far as he could, like a pitcher. The whirlwinds started to gather and compress around his right arm.
"Arggaaahh!"
Lind roared and then swung his right arm furiously at the direction of the flying side horn. The compressed whirlwinds that surrounded his right arm before were thrown at high velocity, slicing every single object in its path. It cut the side horn in half, thus blowing the giant horn beetle ten feet away. The giant horn beetle must have ridiculously hard shells to endure such strong and sharp air blades. Right after the cast, Lind collapsed on the ground, breathing hard against the cold floor and unable to move an inch. Slowly closing his eyes, he saw a blurry glimpse of two people running towards him from far away.
Deep within Lind's mind, parts of happy and sad memories showed up. The first time he fell in love, the time he played with old friends, the time when he went to the mall with his family, the looks of his parents and his little brother... They appeared but slowly …fading away. Those memories disappeared as if they were eaten by something... Without any more resistance, Lind gave in to the darkness and passed out.