Chapter 2: The Broken Bond
I woke up in the peaceful quiet morning, as the happy birds chirped joyfully. The bright light shone through my glass window, and to my small clean room as I yawned and smelled something delicious outside of my room. I lazily got up, and exited my room to the kitchen, and noticed Tori sitting there with a plate of delicious pancakes on the table as she poured honey syrup on her pancakes. My stomach growled loudly, which made Tori noticed me, and then she smiled joyfully at me. Stupid stomach.
"Good morning big bro!" Tori exclaimed as she hurried over and dragged me slowly to the kitchen table by my arms. I smiled warmly at her and then brushed her hair gently as I watched her cheeks fluster.
"Good morning to you too little sis." I said as Tori began to put pancakes on my plate. I stood up and walked over to Tori and took the dish away without hesitation. "Do you really have to do it for me?" I joked as I watched Tori looking away twirling her hair silently.
"Alright, Alright, Fine. You do it." Tori said as she happily sat back down on her seat and continued to eat. I placed more pancakes on my plate, and began to pour sweet honey syrup on my pancakes as I went to sit down with Tori. We ate silently, until Tori wanted to ask something important.
"Hey Steph?" Tori called out as I looked at her. She looked at me sadly as she began to speak. "Have anyone ever tried to hurt you because of your useless burned arm?" Tori suddenly asked as I looked at her with concerns. No one had ever asked me this question before. I wonder why she wants to ask this.
"Nope, just bullied." I said as Tori looked even sadder.
"Do you feel hurt in any way of those insults?" Tori asked. I shook my head. I didn't really care about those insults. I take it and move on, because I always tell myself it's not going to affect how I live now.
"I chose to ignore it and I never really notice those insults, but I can hear them." I said as Tori still looked the same. I felt bad for her, she looked really sad. I knew I needed to comfort her, but I realized she looked back at me with a smile. Tori looked at my arm for a second and then her eyes widen.
"I remember a legend dad used to tell us. I remember he used to say there was a god of Taker named Raven. His arm was burned, but eventually it transformed once he became a god. His arm was made out of this metal called Nasod, which enhances him special powers out of that arm. But I also heard he was a really good one handed swordsman because he's fast, really fast. No one could predict his movement or attacks. He would fight you until you can't your body can't handle it anymore, and then he will finish you." Tori said as she looked at my arm once again sadly but I looked at her with cunfusion.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.
"I just wanted to know if he was you're father or not." Tori said as I flinched. Him? But he's a powerful god, I'm definitely not a god, and I don't have special powers like he does. And that would be crazy if I was a god though. You know, eternal life. "You're almost like him. Both of you have burned your arm on your left. I wonder if you look like him too." Tori complemented as I looked at her annoyed.
"So you're saying I was born by the god of Taker, who's supposed to be my father?" I asked as one of my eyebrows, but Tori shrugged.
"It's just a theory. It could be possible though." Tori said as our mother called me.
"Steph? Could you get some wood from the forest? We just ran out!" My mom called as I stood up and headed out the door. I looked back at Tori, who was still sitting there motionless. She's probably thinking about me being born by a god. That's crazy!
"Hey Tori, we'll talk more once I come back." I said smiling as she nodded happily. I walked out of the house and headed towards the front gate of the village. The village seems pretty busy. People were shopping, and there was a lot of chattering within the noisy villagers. Just then I heard a voice calling for me.
"Hey Steph!" I turned around to see a pretty girl with black hair running towards me. "Where are you going?" The girl said.
"Hey Jenny, I'm just going to get some wood for my parents." I said as Jenny smiled.
"Can I come?" She said nervously as she looked away from me. She began to play with her fingers.
"Sure, if you want." I said as we both headed towards the front gate. The weird thing about Jenny is that, she has the same golden eyes as me, even though we're not brothers and sisters. I wonder if special people was born with golden eyes. We headed toward the bright forest, and I began to find wood. Jenny was roaming around the forest looking at animals interestingly. "Don't go too far Jenny, you might get lost!" I called out as I saw her nodded happily. I continue to collect wood until I smelled smoke in the air. I sniffed, and it seemed like it was heading towards the village. I thought we didn't have enough wood for the fire, oh well.
"Jenny! Let's head back." I called out but no answer. Darn, I lost her. I told her to stay with me! Just then, I heard a loud scream at the direction of where the village was located. I quickly ran towards the village, and noticed something red up ahead. I whipped past the tree and stood frozen in front of the village. I saw large hot flames spreading all over the village, as pieces of wood from the ceiling fell. I quickly rushed back home and noticed our house was onto flames too. I walked in, avoiding the flames as I look for my parents, or even my little sis. I hope they are okay. I walked into the kitchen, but no one was there except an explosion near the oven had occur, knocking me back with a powerful force against the wall. I felt pain in my arms, but I fought through it. I got up slowly, and headed towards my parents room, but it was also empty. Darn it, where are they? Could it be possible that they left already? All of a sudden, I heard a familiar girl's cry. No, Tori. I hurried to Tori's room and I saw Tori sitting in a corner with her head in her arms which was on top of her knees. I heard soft mutterings for her.
"P-pleeeeease save me." Tori said without looking up until I touched her shoulders gently. She looked at me with tears dripping from her face. "Steph?!"
"Come on, we're getting out of here!" I yelled as I got her and helped her out, until a group of people with swords blocked our way. They were bandits, but what were they doing here? Were they responsible for burning our village? They surrounded us in a circle and took Tori away from me.
"Steph!" She cried as I tried to fought my way to her.
"Leave her alone." I yelled until a pain shot in my arms, and felt something hit my head from behind which made me unconscious. My vision fading slowly as I tried to reach for Tori, but another pain shot my arm. I watched Tori get pulled away, as she cried out for me. No! Don't take her away! Ugh, my stupid useless arm. All of a sudden, a wood fell on my head, causing me to get knocked out, and everything went black. I woke up, noticing smoke all over me. I removed the wood on top of me, and stood up slowly. I held one hand on my left burned arm, as I overlook the demolished village. All of the houses have collapsed, making the land all flat and into ashes. I punched the ground with anger. I lost Tori, and they left me to die. I need to find Tori, or else something bad to happen to her. It hurts to see my little sister get tortured, or even dead. Don't worry sis, I'll find you, and remember how I said I promise I'll protect you? Well, I'm keeping my promise. I took a step forward, and then another one. Then I smelled something. I smelled a path, a path leading somewhere where they are hiding my little sister. I smirked, as I followed the path… the path to bond with my little sister again.
