The Hunter's Fantasia: A Never-ending Tale
By Kumatenshi
VOLUME II: THE BOOK OF TRAGEDIES ** Prologue --- What Follows Autumn**
"My dear Paku, which time of the year do you like best?" Kuroro asked as he sat in his throne of steel. For the last three days, he had remained in the same position, thinking. He did not say a word to any human or animal so Pakunoda was quite surprised at the sudden question put forth to her. She laid Kuroro's dinner, which was just thin soup, on the little table beside him then said, "Spring".
"Why?" Kuroro asked with a sign of curiosity in his voice. Pakunoda slowly raised her eyes to meet that of her leader. They seemed to be looking at her, but then, they seemed to be looking past her, to a place afar. "That is because I have never seen spring in my life, at least not in this rotten piece of land".
Kuroro giggled and Pakunoda blushed as she did not feel what she said was worth laughing about. Kuroro seemed to notice the reddening face of his closest friend and explained, "I am sorry I seem to be carried away but you're right, I too want to have a glimpse of the legendary spring when all life begins. Yet, I think even if I see it, I will not like it."
"Then, what season do you like, perhaps winter?" Pakunoda guessed.
"I don't like winter for spring comes right after winter." Kuroro said indifferently. Pakunoda was getting annoyed with Kuroro as she felt the latter was teasing her. "Then what do you like?" She asked agitatedly.
"Fall, that's what I like". Kuroro closed his eyes but Pakunoda would not let him sink into his thoughts again, at least not before explaining. "You have not told me why." Pakunoda reminded her prince.
Kuroro weaved his pale, bloodless lips into an evil smile, "but I thought I have told you, my dear friend, because winter always comes, when autumn ends".
* * *
"We have been away for just a few days and I cannot believe how much the temperature has dropped! It is in the middle of summer but see what we are getting?" Leorio complained as the five young creatures shivered on their way back to the village at the bottom of the mountain. To avoid scaring off humans, Kurapika cast a simple spell that rendered the water nymph a form closer to human. Her wings are now invisible and her hair is dyed blonde instead of cyan. Even Leorio was amazed at the transformation and wondered if a water nymph and a human could get married.
The journey down the mountain was way easier than the journey up because there was a secret device at the top of the mountain that sent them back to the entrance of the forest. Yet, when they arrived at the entrance of the forest, the whole scenery was altered. When they first came to the forest less than a week ago, the bees were humming, and the trees were green and dense. Now, all they saw was leafless trees, frozen branches, and the complete absence of insects or animals.
"I have a terrible feeling about this," Kurapika looked extremely worried, or even scared and the five of them struggled to reach the village as fast as possible. Originally, their plan was to bid Aunt Mito farewell and then set off in search for the prophet Jin but it seemed their plan could no longer be executed. The village that mysteriously brought Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua together had vanished. Or more appropriately, it was sealed in a barrier of snow and ice.
"The prophecy was realized", Killua said in a small, shocked voice. By now, he had fully regained his memory.
"Aunt Mito!" Gon screamed as he rushed toward the direction of the village. "Wait a minute," Zumi shouted as she tried to stop Gon. "If you enter the village, you will be frozen to death, we must leave here as soon as possible." But Gon pushed her aside and continued running forward. Kurapika and Leorio also left their normal reasoning behind as they knew their tutor's life was at stake. Zumi had no choice but to gather all her energy and cast a protective barrier around her friends. As Gon approached the house, he madly pushed away the deep pile of snow that collected in front of the door. The cold blisters on his hands had started bleeding, adding red spots to the white snow shoved aside but Gon did not care. Killua also joined Gon while Kurapika, and Leorio headed to the direction of Isma's house. After a few hours, Gon and Killua finally managed to open the door but the scene inside was a million times worse then outside. From pots and pans, to chairs and tables, everything was frozen. "Aunt Mito" Gon was searching frantically like a wild beast. Finally, he found Mito in her room. She was standing by the window. Her hand clasped together as if she were praying or hoping for Gon to return to her safely. Her eyes were staring in the direction of the moon but whether she could see under the thick layer of ice surrounding her, no one knew.
"Aunt Mito," Gon approached his mother's frozen body. He touched the part of her hand that was closest to the surface of the ice but he could not feel the warmth that he used to know. "See, I have come home safe and sound, just as I have promised you. I have also helped Killua regain his memories. I was about to come sit down with you and tell you about all our adventures up the mountain as we eat the delicious food you cook for us. You know, there really was no monster up the mountain, it was just a helpless girl who wanted to go back to her dreams and we helped her. Now, she is with the man she loves, now she is happy.now, I.why did this happen? Mama! Mama!" Gon wept as he held onto the ice statue that had engulfed the body of his mother.
"Killua, I am sorry for Gon but I'm afraid I'm reaching my limit. I cannot hold our barriers anymore. Try to grab Gon for we must leave this place as soon as possible or we will become ice statues as well! I'll go grab the others" Zumi said as she left the house to get Kurapika and Leorio. Killua tried to talk to Gon but the boy could hear nothing. His sorrow had overpowered him and dragged him into a different universe. Killua had no choice but to hit Gon hard on the head. He then swiftly caught the unconscious boy and carried him out of the house. As he was leaving, he turned to take a final glimpse of Mito. Her lips had widened a bit, as if she was smiling with joy but he had no time to observe any further. He rushed out of the house and saw Zumi, followed closely by Kurapika who was carrying an unconscious Leorio. The three moved as quickly as possible through the snow until they reached the road leading to the city of Dentora where the snow got thinner. Suddenly, Kurapika paused and closed his eyes to listen with his full attention. He then murmured some words, probably a spell and said, "Zumi, Killua, follow this road and not long, you should arrive at a small inn called "Fishers' Paradise". Judging from the decreasing density of the snow, I think the place has not frozen yet. Please wait for me there, I have a little business to take care of in the village but I shall return very shortly. Meanwhile, Zumi, could you please carry Leorio. I have cast a "lighten" spell on him so that the weight of his body should be reduced. Unfortunately, the spell cannot last too long, so please hurry to the inn, both of you." Kurapika also cast the "lighten" spell onto Gon and then headed back to the village.
"Kurapika, that's dangerous! Do you want to commit suicide?" Zumi shouted with concern but Kurapika just turned and smiled, "please do not worry about me, Zumi, for I am not yet as crazy as those two there." Zumi watched as Kurapika slowly disappeared into the snow. Killua pat her on the shoulder and said gently, "don't worry, Zumi, Kurapika is not a reckless person who acts before he thinks. We should have confidence in him." Zumi nodded and the two carried Leorio and Gon to the Fishers' Paradise. When they arrived, they found the inn covered with snow, but much thinner, about the thickness of the normal winter snow. The original color of the house could no longer be deduced owing to the snow. The entrance was decorated with nothing more than a simple rug that spelled "welcome" in the seven colors of a rainbow. The interior of the inn further revealed further signs of the age of the house for the green wallpaper had turned slightly yellow and the carpet too had lost its youthful charms. Still, the inn was very clean, with every piece of furniture carefully arranged so that they all existed in perfect harmony. The warm fireplace as well as the big smile on the innkeeper's face also contributed to the cozy atmosphere of the inn.
"Welcome, welcome", the innkeeper said in a jolly manner, "how great to see normal customers again!"
"Normal customers?" Killua asked, hoping the innkeeper would elaborate on the rationale behind his emphasis on the word normal and he did.
"Ever since the snow started, we did not have any customer other than soldiers but it's not surprising given this horrible weather. I just cannot believe it. It's summer a few days ago and all of a sudden, it's snowing so heavily now. If the snow persists, I wonder how I can go to the village to get supplies". The innkeeper sighed. Killua was very tempted to tell the innkeeper that it was no longer necessary for him to go to the village because even if he did, there would be no human being to serve him, only frozen statues but he decided the story could wait. He then asked politely, could we have three rooms please? Two double and one single."
"Of course", the innkeeper assumed a more commercial smile. He then turned to two boys who were sitting near the counter, "Saipher, Wyne, stop daydreaming and show the customers their rooms! It's 2008, 2009 and 2101." The two porter boys were around the age of Killua and Gon but much stronger, probably from carrying luggage. Saipher had short, black hair, dark skin, and rather dull, uninteresting brown eyes while Wyne had a fairer complexion, blonde hair, and equally boring hazel eyes. The two boys led Killua and Zumi up two flights of stairs, through a long corridor, a set of heavy wooden door, another short corridor, before they finally stopped in front of two rooms with red doors and rusty bronze signs that barely read: "2008" and "2009". Killua and Zumi laid Gon and Leorio on the two beds in 2008. The former then tipped Saipher and Wyne who said very loudly, "thank you" and happily departed, possibly, for a second round of daydreaming.
Having ensured Gon and Leorio's safety, Killua turned to Zumi, who sat in a chair looking at the path outside the inn. Even without asking, Killua knew Zumi was worried about Kurapika. Rather than repeating his boring speech about how having confidence in Kurapika that did not seem too effective at placating Zumi's anxiety, Killua decided to just leave her and have a little chat with the soldiers; the only customers who came to the inn after the heavy snowing began. He had a hunch that these soldiers might have some valuable information, which could enlighten him on the bizarre change in the weather. He left his room and worked his way to the reception desk, where the innkeeper was sitting.
"How're your friends?" the innkeeper asked, referring to Gon and Leorio. "They have gotten better", Killua thanked the innkeeper for his concern and proceeded: "Those soldiers who came after the snowing began, I wonder if they are still here." Killua asked casually.
"Oh, they are", the innkeeper said as sipped from his cup of hot chocolate, "and they are rather strange. They seemed to be in deep shock when they arrived. They were very quiet, asked for a room, and stayed in there. Except ordering food and whiskey, they never left their room. I tried to start a chat with them but they just ignored me and went straight to their room." The innkeeper took another sip of his chocolate.
"Could I talk to them?" Killua asked.
The innkeeper hesitated and said, "I don't know if they will talk to you but if you want, you can try. They're in room 1003, on the first floor, the second room to your right." Killua thanked the innkeeper and went up the stairs. "Room 1003, this should be it". Killua gently knocked on the old, wooden door and waited but he did not hear any sound. He asked in a sweet, gentle voice: "Excuse me, my name is Killua and I'm wondering if I can talk to you very briefly?" A few seconds passed and not a sound emerged from the room. "Perhaps they are asleep". Killua thought to himself as he ascended the ancient flight of stairs once again, to his room on the second floor. When he opened his room, he found Gon and Leorio still on their beds but there was no sign of Zumi. In the single room, which was supposed to be Zumi's room, he noticed the window was wide open. It was not hard to guess where the water nymph was heading to.
Zumi was on her way back to the village. The snow was getting stronger minute by minute and her vision of the road ahead became blurrier. She struggled with the little strength she had and battled her way through the snow. "What horrible power, so this is the spell of Eternal Winter. I must hurry and deliver the message to Uncle Jin before the whole Dentora would suffer the fate of the village. Before that though, I must first, find Kurapika. Kurapika, where are you?" Zumi's head was blasting with pain and she could barely see the road before her. When she finally arrived at the spot where Kurapika left them, she thought she saw an angel with large, black wings. Then, her world blackened and she collapsed onto the snow. The angel she saw approached her and picked up her weak body. Then the two disappeared into a dark sphere and vanished from the road, leaving behind nothing but ice and snow.
VOLUME II: THE BOOK OF TRAGEDIES ** Prologue --- What Follows Autumn**
"My dear Paku, which time of the year do you like best?" Kuroro asked as he sat in his throne of steel. For the last three days, he had remained in the same position, thinking. He did not say a word to any human or animal so Pakunoda was quite surprised at the sudden question put forth to her. She laid Kuroro's dinner, which was just thin soup, on the little table beside him then said, "Spring".
"Why?" Kuroro asked with a sign of curiosity in his voice. Pakunoda slowly raised her eyes to meet that of her leader. They seemed to be looking at her, but then, they seemed to be looking past her, to a place afar. "That is because I have never seen spring in my life, at least not in this rotten piece of land".
Kuroro giggled and Pakunoda blushed as she did not feel what she said was worth laughing about. Kuroro seemed to notice the reddening face of his closest friend and explained, "I am sorry I seem to be carried away but you're right, I too want to have a glimpse of the legendary spring when all life begins. Yet, I think even if I see it, I will not like it."
"Then, what season do you like, perhaps winter?" Pakunoda guessed.
"I don't like winter for spring comes right after winter." Kuroro said indifferently. Pakunoda was getting annoyed with Kuroro as she felt the latter was teasing her. "Then what do you like?" She asked agitatedly.
"Fall, that's what I like". Kuroro closed his eyes but Pakunoda would not let him sink into his thoughts again, at least not before explaining. "You have not told me why." Pakunoda reminded her prince.
Kuroro weaved his pale, bloodless lips into an evil smile, "but I thought I have told you, my dear friend, because winter always comes, when autumn ends".
* * *
"We have been away for just a few days and I cannot believe how much the temperature has dropped! It is in the middle of summer but see what we are getting?" Leorio complained as the five young creatures shivered on their way back to the village at the bottom of the mountain. To avoid scaring off humans, Kurapika cast a simple spell that rendered the water nymph a form closer to human. Her wings are now invisible and her hair is dyed blonde instead of cyan. Even Leorio was amazed at the transformation and wondered if a water nymph and a human could get married.
The journey down the mountain was way easier than the journey up because there was a secret device at the top of the mountain that sent them back to the entrance of the forest. Yet, when they arrived at the entrance of the forest, the whole scenery was altered. When they first came to the forest less than a week ago, the bees were humming, and the trees were green and dense. Now, all they saw was leafless trees, frozen branches, and the complete absence of insects or animals.
"I have a terrible feeling about this," Kurapika looked extremely worried, or even scared and the five of them struggled to reach the village as fast as possible. Originally, their plan was to bid Aunt Mito farewell and then set off in search for the prophet Jin but it seemed their plan could no longer be executed. The village that mysteriously brought Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua together had vanished. Or more appropriately, it was sealed in a barrier of snow and ice.
"The prophecy was realized", Killua said in a small, shocked voice. By now, he had fully regained his memory.
"Aunt Mito!" Gon screamed as he rushed toward the direction of the village. "Wait a minute," Zumi shouted as she tried to stop Gon. "If you enter the village, you will be frozen to death, we must leave here as soon as possible." But Gon pushed her aside and continued running forward. Kurapika and Leorio also left their normal reasoning behind as they knew their tutor's life was at stake. Zumi had no choice but to gather all her energy and cast a protective barrier around her friends. As Gon approached the house, he madly pushed away the deep pile of snow that collected in front of the door. The cold blisters on his hands had started bleeding, adding red spots to the white snow shoved aside but Gon did not care. Killua also joined Gon while Kurapika, and Leorio headed to the direction of Isma's house. After a few hours, Gon and Killua finally managed to open the door but the scene inside was a million times worse then outside. From pots and pans, to chairs and tables, everything was frozen. "Aunt Mito" Gon was searching frantically like a wild beast. Finally, he found Mito in her room. She was standing by the window. Her hand clasped together as if she were praying or hoping for Gon to return to her safely. Her eyes were staring in the direction of the moon but whether she could see under the thick layer of ice surrounding her, no one knew.
"Aunt Mito," Gon approached his mother's frozen body. He touched the part of her hand that was closest to the surface of the ice but he could not feel the warmth that he used to know. "See, I have come home safe and sound, just as I have promised you. I have also helped Killua regain his memories. I was about to come sit down with you and tell you about all our adventures up the mountain as we eat the delicious food you cook for us. You know, there really was no monster up the mountain, it was just a helpless girl who wanted to go back to her dreams and we helped her. Now, she is with the man she loves, now she is happy.now, I.why did this happen? Mama! Mama!" Gon wept as he held onto the ice statue that had engulfed the body of his mother.
"Killua, I am sorry for Gon but I'm afraid I'm reaching my limit. I cannot hold our barriers anymore. Try to grab Gon for we must leave this place as soon as possible or we will become ice statues as well! I'll go grab the others" Zumi said as she left the house to get Kurapika and Leorio. Killua tried to talk to Gon but the boy could hear nothing. His sorrow had overpowered him and dragged him into a different universe. Killua had no choice but to hit Gon hard on the head. He then swiftly caught the unconscious boy and carried him out of the house. As he was leaving, he turned to take a final glimpse of Mito. Her lips had widened a bit, as if she was smiling with joy but he had no time to observe any further. He rushed out of the house and saw Zumi, followed closely by Kurapika who was carrying an unconscious Leorio. The three moved as quickly as possible through the snow until they reached the road leading to the city of Dentora where the snow got thinner. Suddenly, Kurapika paused and closed his eyes to listen with his full attention. He then murmured some words, probably a spell and said, "Zumi, Killua, follow this road and not long, you should arrive at a small inn called "Fishers' Paradise". Judging from the decreasing density of the snow, I think the place has not frozen yet. Please wait for me there, I have a little business to take care of in the village but I shall return very shortly. Meanwhile, Zumi, could you please carry Leorio. I have cast a "lighten" spell on him so that the weight of his body should be reduced. Unfortunately, the spell cannot last too long, so please hurry to the inn, both of you." Kurapika also cast the "lighten" spell onto Gon and then headed back to the village.
"Kurapika, that's dangerous! Do you want to commit suicide?" Zumi shouted with concern but Kurapika just turned and smiled, "please do not worry about me, Zumi, for I am not yet as crazy as those two there." Zumi watched as Kurapika slowly disappeared into the snow. Killua pat her on the shoulder and said gently, "don't worry, Zumi, Kurapika is not a reckless person who acts before he thinks. We should have confidence in him." Zumi nodded and the two carried Leorio and Gon to the Fishers' Paradise. When they arrived, they found the inn covered with snow, but much thinner, about the thickness of the normal winter snow. The original color of the house could no longer be deduced owing to the snow. The entrance was decorated with nothing more than a simple rug that spelled "welcome" in the seven colors of a rainbow. The interior of the inn further revealed further signs of the age of the house for the green wallpaper had turned slightly yellow and the carpet too had lost its youthful charms. Still, the inn was very clean, with every piece of furniture carefully arranged so that they all existed in perfect harmony. The warm fireplace as well as the big smile on the innkeeper's face also contributed to the cozy atmosphere of the inn.
"Welcome, welcome", the innkeeper said in a jolly manner, "how great to see normal customers again!"
"Normal customers?" Killua asked, hoping the innkeeper would elaborate on the rationale behind his emphasis on the word normal and he did.
"Ever since the snow started, we did not have any customer other than soldiers but it's not surprising given this horrible weather. I just cannot believe it. It's summer a few days ago and all of a sudden, it's snowing so heavily now. If the snow persists, I wonder how I can go to the village to get supplies". The innkeeper sighed. Killua was very tempted to tell the innkeeper that it was no longer necessary for him to go to the village because even if he did, there would be no human being to serve him, only frozen statues but he decided the story could wait. He then asked politely, could we have three rooms please? Two double and one single."
"Of course", the innkeeper assumed a more commercial smile. He then turned to two boys who were sitting near the counter, "Saipher, Wyne, stop daydreaming and show the customers their rooms! It's 2008, 2009 and 2101." The two porter boys were around the age of Killua and Gon but much stronger, probably from carrying luggage. Saipher had short, black hair, dark skin, and rather dull, uninteresting brown eyes while Wyne had a fairer complexion, blonde hair, and equally boring hazel eyes. The two boys led Killua and Zumi up two flights of stairs, through a long corridor, a set of heavy wooden door, another short corridor, before they finally stopped in front of two rooms with red doors and rusty bronze signs that barely read: "2008" and "2009". Killua and Zumi laid Gon and Leorio on the two beds in 2008. The former then tipped Saipher and Wyne who said very loudly, "thank you" and happily departed, possibly, for a second round of daydreaming.
Having ensured Gon and Leorio's safety, Killua turned to Zumi, who sat in a chair looking at the path outside the inn. Even without asking, Killua knew Zumi was worried about Kurapika. Rather than repeating his boring speech about how having confidence in Kurapika that did not seem too effective at placating Zumi's anxiety, Killua decided to just leave her and have a little chat with the soldiers; the only customers who came to the inn after the heavy snowing began. He had a hunch that these soldiers might have some valuable information, which could enlighten him on the bizarre change in the weather. He left his room and worked his way to the reception desk, where the innkeeper was sitting.
"How're your friends?" the innkeeper asked, referring to Gon and Leorio. "They have gotten better", Killua thanked the innkeeper for his concern and proceeded: "Those soldiers who came after the snowing began, I wonder if they are still here." Killua asked casually.
"Oh, they are", the innkeeper said as sipped from his cup of hot chocolate, "and they are rather strange. They seemed to be in deep shock when they arrived. They were very quiet, asked for a room, and stayed in there. Except ordering food and whiskey, they never left their room. I tried to start a chat with them but they just ignored me and went straight to their room." The innkeeper took another sip of his chocolate.
"Could I talk to them?" Killua asked.
The innkeeper hesitated and said, "I don't know if they will talk to you but if you want, you can try. They're in room 1003, on the first floor, the second room to your right." Killua thanked the innkeeper and went up the stairs. "Room 1003, this should be it". Killua gently knocked on the old, wooden door and waited but he did not hear any sound. He asked in a sweet, gentle voice: "Excuse me, my name is Killua and I'm wondering if I can talk to you very briefly?" A few seconds passed and not a sound emerged from the room. "Perhaps they are asleep". Killua thought to himself as he ascended the ancient flight of stairs once again, to his room on the second floor. When he opened his room, he found Gon and Leorio still on their beds but there was no sign of Zumi. In the single room, which was supposed to be Zumi's room, he noticed the window was wide open. It was not hard to guess where the water nymph was heading to.
Zumi was on her way back to the village. The snow was getting stronger minute by minute and her vision of the road ahead became blurrier. She struggled with the little strength she had and battled her way through the snow. "What horrible power, so this is the spell of Eternal Winter. I must hurry and deliver the message to Uncle Jin before the whole Dentora would suffer the fate of the village. Before that though, I must first, find Kurapika. Kurapika, where are you?" Zumi's head was blasting with pain and she could barely see the road before her. When she finally arrived at the spot where Kurapika left them, she thought she saw an angel with large, black wings. Then, her world blackened and she collapsed onto the snow. The angel she saw approached her and picked up her weak body. Then the two disappeared into a dark sphere and vanished from the road, leaving behind nothing but ice and snow.
