Chapter Two: Departure
"He's waking up! Quick, call the elder!"
There was a loud stirring commotion and a rustling off feet on the ground. Gazico could feel the heat of a fire near by and he could hear the breaths of many people around him. Slowly he opened both his eyes and stared at the ceiling as they focused. Then he looked over to his left and right. Many of the town's people were standing over him. All the women had tears in their eyes and all the men were grinning.
He lifted himself up and before they could stop him he spoke out, "What happened?"
"That's what we would like to know," blurted one man, "Your sister found you unconscious in the forest lying under some girl."
The mention of the girl seemed to have jolted an emotion of shock in Gazico.
"What happened to the girl?" he demanded to know, "Is she okay?"
No one seemed to know. When he received no answer he attempted to get up but two men held him down.
"You have to rest. Though you have no injuries on the outside, you have lost a lot of blood and almost all your spiritual power."
After a few attempts of struggling and failing, Gazico gave to and fell back into his bed. He had wasted all the energy he had recently been able to store up stuggling and quickly fell back to sleep.
Gazico forced his eyes opened when he noticed he was sleeping and shot upwards in his bed. The hut was empty now and the fire was dead. He looked out the window above him and could tell it was now morning. He noticed his weapons had been hung up in their proper places and his clothes had been folded and put away.
He got out of his bed and noticed that they changed his clothes. He was now wearing a male kimono with white leggings and a blue top. He couldn't remember to have actually ever owning this particular outfit and it seemed fresh and new. It must have been just recently sewn.
Gazico quickly slipped on his geta, wooden sandals, which lay next to the exit. He lifted up the curtain to the side so he could pass out and was greeted by the sun. The warmth shot through his body and the light caused him to close his eyes for a moment.
Outside, he noticed, that nothing was different. All the people of his village were still going about their own business and they all smiled and laughed as they did so. A few children passed him as he slowly walked. He saw one girl tag a boy running and run away. However, the girl tripped over a rock and fell onto her face and began to cry. The boy helped her up and asked her if she was okay, after a few moments she responded yes and he tagged her and they ran off. Gazico smiled at the true purity of children.
Just as he turned around he saw someone running towards him. The man was dressed in a similar kimono as to his, but the leggings were brought up to his knees and tied so they would stay. His hair was short and naturally stayed up. Across his right cheek was a long scar that extended from his ear down to his chin. This scar told Gazico exactly who was coming before he could make out any other features.
"Morning Gazico!" he reached Gazico finally and bent over and panted, "How are you?"
Gazico smiled at his friend, "I'm okay Sauske."
"That's great," he responded, "We were all worried about you yesterday. The elder says you were on the brink of death. If your sister found you even one minute later, he doubted you would have lived through the night."
"I see. Where is my sister?" Gazico asked.
"Halundra? She is off hunting for your share today since we all figured you wouldn't be well enough to continue to seek food in the morning," Sauske smiled at him.
"I see," a small grin grew on Gazico's face, "Well Sauske, I guess I better go find something easy to do for today. I don't want to just waste this nice day away and not help."
Gazico slightly bowed to his friend and continued on his way.
"Wait!" Sauske ran up to him.
Gazico slowly turned around, "What is it Sauske?"
"I swear I don't know why everyone is trustworthy of me. I forget so many things. I almost forgot to tell you. The elder wanted me to come get you as soon as you awoke. He wishes to speak with you as soon as you are able to walk."
"The elder wants to speak with me?" Gazico was puzzled why.
"Well, anyway, let's go then."
"It's okay Sauske, I can walk by myself. You go ahead and continue working on what you were doing before. Don't let me be a bother."
Sauske smiled with his eyes closed and put his hands over his head and behind his back, "Don't talk that way Gazico. You aren't being a bother."
Gazico again said his good-bye and Sauske returned his. Sauske then ran off in the opposite direction of the elder's home. Gazico turned around and headed to his next destination.
When he finally reached the hut of the elder he pushed aside the curtain and slowly stepped in.
"Elder-shuni?" Gazico looked around.
Books of all
kinds laid opened and scattered about the hut; some in languages that Gazico had never seen before.
"Gazico, is that you?" a man came out from behind a curtain leading to the other room in his hut.
"Aye, Elder-shuni, you wished to speak with me?"
"Please my boy," returned the elder, "You need not add –shuni to my name. You have earned enough respect from the villagers, as myself."
"I'm sorry Elder. I've just gotten accustomed to calling you by that. What was it that you wished to speak to me about?"
The elder took his hand out and brought it near his chest, to signal Gazico to come forward without actually saying any words. Gazico did as he was told and stepped forward and the elder moved aside the curtain allowing him into the other room. Gazico took a few steps and froze in fear.
"What is this?" he asked.
The girl he had seen yesterday before he began to hallucinate was lying on the elder's bed.
"This young girl was found lying on top of you yesterday," said the elder as he walked past Gazico and stepped further into the room, "Do you know who she is?"
Gazico stared at her, "I have never actually seen her before, but it seemed that she had known me for a long time."
The elder looked up at Gazico, "Did she call out your name by chance?"
Gazico thought for a moment then his eyes opened wide. A splitting pain filled his head and he grasped his hair with his right hand.
"Aye," he responded after a few moments, "She called me Hirotine. She asked if I had come back for her."
The elder closed his eyes and sighed, "It is as I have feared. The legend has come true."
Gazico stared at him confused. The elder moved over to the desk next to the bed, he grabbed an object that lay in the shadow. He then walked up to Gazico and held it out in front of him. It was a katana, sheathed with a black case. The hilt was black as well; however, a long red ribbon was tied right before the guard. Gazico stared at the sword and began to feel dizzy. His legs began to shake and lose strength, he fell down to his knees.
"Are you okay Gazico?" the elder asked, quickly putting the sword back on the desk.
Gazico stared up at him for a moment; the pupils had left his eyes.
"Gazico," the elder spoke his name again.
Gazico blinked and he looked around confused, his pupils returned.
"What, what is going on Elder? Why do I feel so strange lately?"
"Before I tell you of that, I have one last question for you. When she called out your name, what did you see next?
Gazico was silent; the memories of what he had seen replayed themselves so clearly in his mind.
"There were flames all around me," he responded, "A dark figure stood in front of me. I couldn't tell if he was a man, or even human. In my hand is what I believe to be that katana which lies over on that desk. The ribbon is what reminds me of it. So much hatred filled my veins but I can't remember why."
The elder stared at him and slowly stroked his long beard.
"Gazico, that chair to your right. Sit down for a moment please," he went back to the desk and grabbed the sword.
Gazico sat as he was told and looked over at the girl. She was tranquil unlike yesterday in the forest. Her face was flushed and she seemed more alive.
"Gazico," he stopped looking at the girl and stared at the elder, "Take this sword."
He handed him the katana and Gazico accepted.
"I have researched all night to make sure I had remembered the legend properly," he paused, "Long ago there was a peaceful god named Takakura, who became a terrible demon. A young man defeated him before Takakura could take out all of his rage on the land. Both the demon and the human swore they would come back and fight each other again," he paused again, "Gazico, you are the reincarnation of that mighty warrior. I have known it for quiet some time, but I had hoped that I was wrong. However, the time has come and I am sure I am not mistaken."
Gazico did not respond.
"This girl seems to be a trigger that connects you to Hirotine, the nameless savior. My child of the village, you must take her out to the west, into the harsh tainted world," Gazico stared at the girl, then down at the katana, "It is called Lenoria, you may unsheathe it if you please, but I'm sure it hasn't changed since I last laid eyes on it."
Gazico unsheathed it slowly in curiosity. He stopped for a second in shock; the blade that had emerged was dull and dented. Scratches were deeply made through various places.
"Aye, it is exactly as I remember it," the elder closed his eyes, "The Lenoria is said to be one of the strongest swords ever forged. I am sure it is still usable, but that you must figure out on your own. I am sorry I can be of no further help.
"When must I leave?" Gazico finally spoke.
Before the elder could respond the girl opened her eyes quickly and snapped up. She got out of the bed and noticed the clothes on her. She quickly tried to rip them off as she attempted to run out.
"Gazico, grab her!" he did as he was told and restrained her, pushing her back onto the bed.
"Relax please," Gazico begged.
She continued to fight against him and made signs that she was screaming, but only a high raspy tone filled the room. After a few moments she stopped struggling and looked at him, tears pouring from her eyes. He slowly let go of her and she continued to sit there, tears still emerging. She lunged and hugged his waist, shaking and tightening her grip on him. Gazico was silent for a few moments.
"When must I leave?" Gazico asked the elder again.
"Now that she has awoken, you must leave tonight. I am so sorry my child, but you will never be allowed back into this village once you leave. It is the laws to keep our purity."
Gazico understood and closed his eyes as he thought about leaving all of his friends. His mind went to his sister, though she was strong, she was still very young and with both of their parents dieing just recently, she would be alone in this village.
Gazico put his hands on the girl's shoulders and gently removed her from his waist. She had cried a great deal and her eyes and cheeks were red. She had exhausted herself and fell back into the bed and quickly to sleep.
"I understand, I will do anything to secure the safety of this village," he paused for a moment and turned to the elder, "If you will please, I wish to grab the belongings I need."
"Of course my child," the elder's face was morbid and stern.
Gazico parted from the two and headed back to his own hut. He quickly grabbed all of his belongings, such as food, weapons, and medicines and put them all next to his clothes. He went over to his bed and laid down attempting to sleep to save up his energy for the night. However, he could only thing about the things that the elder had told him. How the elder could had known of this all the time and never spoken a word to him? Why was this so sudden? What would happen to the village? What would happen to his sister? He soon fell to asleep after thinking for a long period of time.
A bird call awoke Gazico and he looked up at the window. The sun had gone down and the darkness showed. A small fire had been started, most likely from his sister. He quickly rose and removed his clothing and put on his warrior attire. He strapped his quiver to his back and put the bow around his chest. Where his dagger had once been he put the Lenoria and on the other side was his normal medicine bag. After killing the fire with water and then finishing it with dirt from outside, he walked toward the exit.
Everyone was asleep in their homes and all sources of consciousness were gone. Gazico closed his eyes as he walked and breathed in the cool night air. Memories of all he had done in this village replayed themselves and before he had known it he reached the elder's hut. The elder stood waiting outside.
He said nothing but let Gazico in and they walked to the back room. The girl was awake and fully dressed for the voyage. She was sitting on the edge of the bed and looked up at him. She quickly jumped up and grabbed his arm.
"Is it possible that she thinks I am Hirotine?" he asked breaking the silence.
"Possibly," he responded, "I'm afraid I don't know."
"I need a few more moments; I want to walk to the lake before I go."
"Of course, please hurry back though."
Gazico walked out of the hut and down the pathway outside the village. The pathway disappeared and he continued from memory. After a few minutes he reached an open area that was surrounded by no trees and in the middle had a still lake. This is where all of his confusion had sprouted. What if he had not been around here that day, would she still have found him?
It was too late to be thinking negatively about these things. He had to accept his fate. Slowly he moved up to the lake and sat right in front of it, looking at himself in the reflection. He noticed his eyes were darker and his whole face seemed angered and displeased.
He looked at the grass and saw the dew had begun to form on the blades of grass.
"Gazico," he looked up and saw familiar legs.
Quickly he turned around and saw his sister standing before him. She had long brown hair, blue eyes, and a beautiful face.
"Halundra," he responded.
He wanted to tell her what he was going to have to do, but he just couldn't go through with it. Deep down he wished she hadn't found him here.
"Here take this," she held out her palm and grasped his with the other.
She opened her palm and something small fell into his. He looked at it, it was a smooth green rock that shined and glowed.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It's a special rock I found along with this one," she pulled out an identical one; the glow from it was blue, "The elder told me that if two people each have one, they can share their thoughts."
Gazico was shocked, "Really? That's amazing!"
Halundra was silent, "I know you are going to leave," she finally spoke, "Why is it so sudden?"
Gazico looked down, "It's so complicated, and I don't even understand it myself."
"How am I supposed to make it without you brother?" her eyes began to tear.
Gazico smiled and placed his hand on her head, "Halundra, you are a fine hunter. You help the village in many more ways than I ever could. You will be fine."
She looked at him and a few drops of tears ran down her face.
"Brother!" she cried and ran into his arms.
He slowly put his arms around her, closed his eyes, and smiled as he held her closer to him. He eventually let go of her and walked back towards the village.
"It's time for me to go," he said, "Take care of this village and tell Sauske not to worry about me. I'm positive you will lead them very well my dear sister."
He ran into the darkness leaving his sister with tears still falling from her cheeks.
When he arrived back at the village the elder was waiting outside the hut with the girl this time. Without a word he walked up to them, the elder bowed, and Gazico and the girl walked off to the other side of the village, to where a few have left, but none had come back. After a few hours Gazico was tempted to look back, but forced himself to continue looking straight.
He turned to the girl next to him, to which he did not even know her name. She seemed tired and she panted with ever step. He smiled and for some reason her face comforted him to keep moving. They continued to walk all night until the sun rose.