002 - Ryu

POV : Ryu

I was barely an adult when I learned the complete story of my people, the "legend of the guardians of time".

I learned that my people were respected by all, both for their strength and wits, but one day, without warnings, a war began between them and the Snake Tribe.

The latter wanted to kill the entirety of my people to master the energy of time, and for that they wage war for more than 4000 years. The last 350 years before my birth were even fought on our planet, by against this might, my people managed to fight back, thanks to their chief, my father.

The day of my seventh birthday, I was playing with some friends when suddenly a deafening sound rolled over us without warning. Fearing another attack from the snakes, our group started to go back towards the closest shelter, my house, only to be stopped by the horrible smell of something burning, like meat but more disgusting. This was the moment where we started to panic, because instead of a sturdy looking house that resisted even the strongest attacks from the Snakes, was nothing but a burning crater, and standing in front of it something that froze our blood immediately, some Snake warriors, laughing.

At that moment, a single thought was lodged in our mind : to flee, as fast as possible, without being noticed. That could have gone well, apart from the warriors starting to look our way, and it didn't take long before they were closing in on us, somebody, I don't remember who, it might even be everyone for all I know, started crying and at that moment we scattered. The warriors started laughing and chasing all of my friends, killing every one of them slowly, the volume of their screams only drowned by the laughter of the Snakes. Then came my turn. He backed me up against a tree trunk slowly, leaving me no escape, closer, ever closer, and, before the scream buried in my throat could leave its place, he lunged for me and bit my neck, then my mind blacked out.

Stunned and lost, it took me some time to notice that the roof, which sheltered me from the rain I heard against the window, was not the same one that the one I was used to. After a little more time, my vision cleared enough to allow me to look around and I realised that it was not my room!

It's at this moment that my memories came back : the Snakes, my friends, my parents, everyone… The pain made me scream, a scream of pure horror and sorrow, that could have lasted forever and ever if it was not for a mysterious person entering the room slightly panicked. He immediately took me in his arms and stayed with me like that until it was night again, with me passing out from weariness.

Days started to become blurred for me, having no idea if I was crying in the middle of the night or in plain daytime, the only unchanging element were those arms consoling me. I stayed in that state of mind for a long time, but the pain was starting to dull little by little and my mind became less blurry, allowing me to form coherent thought. At that moment the mysterious man introduced himself. He was wearing a strange mask covering all of his face, something that I remember seeing before my birthday.

"Hello, it is good to see you up. My name is Yartz, and during the attack by the snakes I was a guest of your parents."

"Hello, I'm Ryu." I answered with a broken voice, my vocal cords still tired from the last few weeks. "I think I remember seeing you from afar at a ball."

"Indeed, but unfortunately that was surely the last, or at least not with the same people. Also I'm really sorry for this but I was unable to save another soul. If my informants are correct, you are the last of the guardians of Time still alive today."

"But, how were you able to take me away?"

"For the simple reason that I control the energy of Time. I managed to repel the Snakes around you before grabbing you and teleporting away to safety."

"Bu..But why me?"

"Because when I detected the Snakes, you were one of the last alive on the planet, and you were the closest to me.

It didn't take more time for me to go back in my lethargic ways. Yartz left me time to reconstruct myself, while being always here for me, and before I knew it a month passed.

After this month, I decided to advance, for myself as well as for my parents, and that's how one morning I surprised Yartz by coming by myself to the small kitchen table, but because of his mask, I have no idea if he is surprised or not.

"Awake at last Ryu ? Good, I wanted to start working on your education. I hope that you are ready."

"Is it truly necessary?"

"Yes, and don't even try to whine about it, it will only make things more difficult for you."

"Alright, but who will take care of it?"

"Me, of course, who would be better than a friend of your parents ? We will start today with some grammar. What was your level before ?"

"Level ? I don't really know, my teacher was always saying that I was really good for my age…"

"Perfect ! And don't hesitate to ask me questions if anything gives you trouble alright ?"

And that moment marked the beginning of my "scholarship" with Yartz. Geography, mathematics, fighting techniques and also history of the different tribes, but more particularly the events that lead to the extinction of my people, even if this subject appeared later in my curriculum, after reaching 15 years old.

That was how my childhood happened, mainly isolated and solitary, but with always a simple goal : VENGEANCE. Vengeance for my decimated tribe, Vengeance for all of those wasted lives. I know that nothing will really change, but I can't allow myself to forget, that would be an affront as the last survivor of the Guardians of Time.